FB: American Southwest Conference

[TheChucker]

Good interview! My only issue is the comment that St. Thomas didn't have a viable D2 conference option. They did have a good D2 conference option in the NSIC which is robust and a good fit geographically, similar to UMHB/HSU and the Lonestar. St. Thomas obviously didn't think it was a good fit institutionally and got the NCAA to agree.

Thanks. I appreciate the comment, but I disagree -- D-II is not viable for a school which values hockey. That's the difference between the two situations, in my mind.

Off the top of my head, four schools in the NSIC play top notch D1 hockey and are now St. Thomas competitors. MN Duluth, St. Cloud, MSU Mankato, and Bemidji. St. Thomas is now in the same hockey conference as Mankato and Bemidji and they play the other two schools (both men and women). Hockey didn't keep them out of D2 and the NSIC because they are now playing those teams. It was likely the other sports, institutional fit and probably some sort of extra sway with the NCAA.

[Ron Boerger]

The NCAA won't allow schools to split sports across divisions any more.  If St. Thomas wanted to play hockey and move up, all sports had to move to D1.  That would not be a consideration for a possible UMHB move.   

The D3 schools that have isolated D1 sports (like Colorado College) have those D1 sports grandfathered. 

[Ron Boerger]

And in sad news, Dallas Morning News reporter Chuck Carlton, the husband of ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton, today passed away at the age of 64.  He fell ill while covering the Stars' playoff loss to the Wild in MN and never recovered.  He had battled congestive heart failure and prostate cancer before his passing of "natural causes."

[SagatagSam]

The NCAA won't allow schools to split sports across divisions any more.  If St. Thomas wanted to play hockey and move up, all sports had to move to D1.  That would not be a consideration for a possible UMHB move.   

The D3 schools that have isolated D1 sports (like Colorado College) have those D1 sports grandfathered.

You can split divisions even today only if the division you play in does not sponsor a championship in a given sport. I have a modern (non-grandfathered) example happening a few miles from where I live in Sioux Falls. Augustana University of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC) plays all of its sports at the D2 level. Starting in the 2023-24 season, Augustana will field an NCAA ice hockey program. However, the NCAA does not sponsor a D2 hockey championship. In this situation, Augustana was left with a choice: 1) drop down and play at the D3 level, or 2) play up a level at the D1 level. Augustana has chosen to play D1 hockey.

[Riley Zayas]

And in sad news, Dallas Morning News reporter Chuck Carlton, the husband of ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton, today passed away at the age of 64.  He fell ill while covering the Stars' playoff loss to the Wild in MN and never recovered.  He had battled congestive heart failure and prostate cancer before his passing of "natural causes."

Yes...saw this almost as soon as it came out yesterday. He was a great one in the industry. It's a tremendous compliment when multiple P5 conference commissioners and head coaches go out of their way to acknowledge what you meant to college sports.

[Riley Zayas]

For those who didn't see it yesterday...I had the chance to chat with Braxton Harris, who, according to my research, is the first UMHB alum (and possibly first ASC alum) to become a D1 head football coach. He's trying to turn the program around at HCU and is a master recruiter. Lots of insight in here, including a few thoughts on Kyle King, lessons learned from Fredenburg, and when he knew UMHB was the place for him.

https://truetothecru.com/2023/04/26/as-a-d-i-head-coach-leading-hcu-football-umhb-alum-braxton-harris-is-still-drawing-upon-the-lessons-he-learned-in-belton/

[Riley Zayas]

Really big addition for UMHB on offense. Ozias Wright has confirmed to me that he will be transferring from Sul Ross State to UMHB as a grad transfer. Led SRSU in rushing yds, rushing TDs this last season. Was voted Second Team All ASC in 2020-21, and 2021.

Story: https://truetothecru.com/2023/04/29/transfer-news-srsu-leading-rusher-two-time-all-asc-rb-ozias-wright-transferring-to-umhb/

[CruFrenzy]

Really big addition for UMHB on offense. Ozias Wright has confirmed to me that he will be transferring from Sul Ross State to UMHB as a grad transfer. Led SRSU in rushing yds, rushing TDs this last season. Was voted Second Team All ASC in 2020-21, and 2021.

Story: https://truetothecru.com/2023/04/29/transfer-news-srsu-leading-rusher-two-time-all-asc-rb-ozias-wright-transferring-to-umhb/

Ozias Wright looks like a talented player. He will certainly have his work cut out trying to break into our backfield, Cormier might be the best running back in the country. Always great to see quality players coming in either way!

[Ron Boerger]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

[jekelish]

And now is when UMHB and HSU, in particular, are going to need to look long and hard at a move to D2, because their conference is dissolving right before their eyes. And while I wouldn't shut the door completely on them getting an invite somewhere D3 or the ASC adding people, there's a reason schools are trying to get away from them.

[TheChucker]

And now is when UMHB and HSU, in particular, are going to need to look long and hard at a move to D2, because their conference is dissolving right before their eyes. And while I wouldn't shut the door completely on them getting an invite somewhere D3 or the ASC adding people, there's a reason schools are trying to get away from them.

Yeah, my kid just graduated (bachelor's) but is staying for grad school and we were chatting how it's possible UMHB might be forced into another division, or conference at a minimum, by the time she's done because of ASC schools jumping ship. It's like a reverse St. Thomas MN situation except there are fewer alternatives because of location.

[Ron Boerger]

By 2024 this will leave only six schools in the ASC if nothing changes between now and then.

CTX --> SCAC in 2024
ETBU
HSU
HPU
LeTU
UMHB
McM -> SCAC in 2024
Ozarks -> SCAC in 2024
Sul Ross -> D2 in 2024
UT Dallas  (and when do they follow in UT-Tyler's footsteps and go D2?)

The reason everyone is bailing is that you have had total radio silence from the ASC front office ever since the Sul Ross move came into discussion.  I know there aren't a lot of optiions but when you're losing schools to conferences headquartered in Georgia without saying a word, it's not a good look. 

[jekelish]

By 2024 this will leave only six schools in the ASC if nothing changes between now and then.

CTX --> SCAC in 2024
ETBU
HSU
HPU
LeTU
UMHB
McM -> SCAC in 2024
Ozarks -> SCAC in 2024
Sul Ross -> D2 in 2024
UT Dallas  (and when do they follow in UT-Tyler's footsteps and go D2?)

Based on conversations I've had, I would be shocked if that ever becomes a legitimate option for UTD. From what I understand, they want no part of making that move.

[Etchglow]

By 2024 this will leave only six schools in the ASC if nothing changes between now and then.

CTX --> SCAC in 2024
ETBU
HSU
HPU
LeTU
UMHB
McM -> SCAC in 2024
Ozarks -> SCAC in 2024
Sul Ross -> D2 in 2024
UT Dallas  (and when do they follow in UT-Tyler's footsteps and go D2?)

Based on conversations I've had, I would be shocked if that ever becomes a legitimate option for UTD. From what I understand, they want no part of making that move.

It'll be interesting to see, I could see the UT system or the state pushing it because they're pretty much the only public school that will be left in D3 in TX...

[crufootball]

By 2024 this will leave only six schools in the ASC if nothing changes between now and then.

CTX --> SCAC in 2024
ETBU
HSU
HPU
LeTU
UMHB
McM -> SCAC in 2024
Ozarks -> SCAC in 2024
Sul Ross -> D2 in 2024
UT Dallas  (and when do they follow in UT-Tyler's footsteps and go D2?)

The reason everyone is bailing is that you have had total radio silence from the ASC front office ever since the Sul Ross move came into discussion.  I know there aren't a lot of optiions but when you're losing schools to conferences headquartered in Georgia without saying a word, it's not a good look.

Do you think that silence is there at the admin level? I know it stinks being a fan because we are the last to know but I would assume the school presidents and AD's are at least in the loop. With that said the lack of anything positive for the conference is not a good look, of course I doubt an outgoing commissioner is going to do much.

Man I really don't want to go D2 and at this point I just wish the SCAC would announce everyone they want and tell the rest of us, good luck.