FB: American Southwest Conference

[Mavchamp]

The SCAC will continue to have 12 schools as LeTourneau and Hendrix replace the departing Trinity and Southwestern next season.  The only option for nearly all the "conference jumpers" is either the ASC (which seems highly unlikely given that most of them left the ASC to begin with) or something like the C2C.  It's hard to imagine the SAA wanting to add more schools on their western perimeter unless they were forced into it, and in adding Maryville (TN) in 2026 they did seem to choose numbers (that gets them to ten, nine with football starting in 2025) over their typical academic standards.

I agree......The SCAC is in great shape as far as all sports not named football.

But with football.... they are sitting at 6 until Shreiner comes online.

That's a paper-thin safety net.

Not much wiggle room should a member decide to move to NAIA.... or go D2...or move to another D3 conference (one that may or may not even exist at the moment). 

There's always the chance of football being shut down at a school because of economics....or worse case scenario... a school closing completely like BSC.

Doesn't seem to be much room for error in SCAC football.

[Mavchamp]

The ASC is definitely on life support, and the time is rapidly approaching to pull the plug. There just don't appear to be any remaining options to save it, sadly.

It's becoming painfully clear that the Baptist Four's days in D3 are numbered, and each school needs to accept that fact and start weighing whether their respective futures lie in NAIA, D2, or in the case of UMHB and HSU, possibly FCS.

I agree 100%.  I actually hate that we have to endure another year of uncertainty and not knowing.

Just rip the band-aid off.  Get it over it.

I'll be happy if we end up in NAIA.  Sooner for football.  RRAC for other sports.  The crowds will likely be better because of the close proximity of the schools.  Would be a fun environment for most sports.  But sure....I'd prefer D3 over the NAIA.

I'd be happy with another D3 conference.  Seems like a real long shot at the moment though.  SCIAC?  USA South?  CCS?  Maybe a whole new D3 conference that doesn't even exist right now.  Whatever.  Bring it on.

I'd be happy with D2....particularly if its the GAC.  The LSC makes zero geographical sense for ETBU.  The GAC is less travel than the ASC was.  But.... small fish in a big pond (albeit a smaller pond than the LSC).

FCS isn't happening for ETBU or HPU.  I wish HSU and UMHB the best in it though.

[Ralph Turner]

I wonder about NIL's impact on D3.
I have no idea what NIL does to the Division and teams and conferences in D3.
My preference is no NIL in D3. There are other options for NIL in intercollegiate athletics.

[UMHB03]

The ASC is definitely on life support, and the time is rapidly approaching to pull the plug. There just don't appear to be any remaining options to save it, sadly.

It's becoming painfully clear that the Baptist Four's days in D3 are numbered, and each school needs to accept that fact and start weighing whether their respective futures lie in NAIA, D2, or in the case of UMHB and HSU, possibly FCS.

I agree 100%.  I actually hate that we have to endure another year of uncertainty and not knowing.

Just rip the band-aid off.  Get it over it.

I'll be happy if we end up in NAIA.  Sooner for football.  RRAC for other sports.  The crowds will likely be better because of the close proximity of the schools.  Would be a fun environment for most sports.  But sure....I'd prefer D3 over the NAIA.

I'd be happy with another D3 conference.  Seems like a real long shot at the moment though.  SCIAC?  USA South?  CCS?  Maybe a whole new D3 conference that doesn't even exist right now.  Whatever.  Bring it on.

I'd be happy with D2....particularly if its the GAC.  The LSC makes zero geographical sense for ETBU.  The GAC is less travel than the ASC was.  But.... small fish in a big pond (albeit a smaller pond than the LSC).

FCS isn't happening for ETBU or HPU.  I wish HSU and UMHB the best in it though.

I'm honestly not sure what I prefer for UMHB. Despite the unfair treatment we receive in playoff seedings most years, I really like D3, and part of me would like to maintain the "big fish/small pond" dynamic that we've had here for the last 15+ years. That would require a move to NAIA, but I don't think that's likely.

Another part of me would like to see UMHB challenge itself more by moving to a higher division, even though that would likely result in more seasons like 2023 (fewer wins and no playoffs) than we're accustomed to.

It will be interesting to watch and see how things unfold, so hopefully all the schools stop prolonging the inevitable and make a decision soon.

[Ron Boerger]

I wonder about NIL's impact on D3.
I have no idea what NIL does to the Division and teams and conferences in D3.
My preference is no NIL in D3. There are other options for NIL in intercollegiate athletics.

Mine too, Ralph, but you know that if the Division tried this someone would file a lawsuit and win.

[Etchglow]

Haven't seen it posted, but UMHB hires Cameron Norcross as OL Coach:

https://cruathletics.com/news/2025/2/13/football-cameron-norcross-named-offensive-line-coach.aspx

Looks like he was at Kennesaw State last year, and has worked at UNLV, Vanderbilt, and Fresno State.

Edit to Add: looks like he replaced Alex Farah who appears to have gone to Butler Community College.

[crufootball]

I wonder about NIL's impact on D3.
I have no idea what NIL does to the Division and teams and conferences in D3.
My preference is no NIL in D3. There are other options for NIL in intercollegiate athletics.

Mine too, Ralph, but you know that if the Division tried this someone would file a lawsuit and win.

While the NCAA has its fault I sometimes do have sympathy for them since as you mentioned everyt ime they attempt to enact rules they are sued and lose. Someo of that is there fault but it feels like the NCAA's main role at this point is punching bag for people.

[Ralph Turner]

As a private voluntary association, I do not understand why the NCAA cannot create a "D3 without NIL".

[CNU85]

As a private voluntary association, I do not understand why the NCAA cannot create a "D3 without NIL".

Same reason why some dotard can spill hot coffee in his lap and sue McDonald's for serving hot coffee. Too many lawyers! 

[Pat Coleman]

As a private voluntary association, I do not understand why the NCAA cannot create a "D3 without NIL".

Same reason why some dotard can spill hot coffee in his lap and sue McDonald's for serving hot coffee. Too many lawyers! 

That coffee was 180-190 degrees F and caused the claimant third-degree burns. She was in the hospital for eight days for skin grafting.

No doubt that there are many frivolous lawsuits, but Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants was not one of them!

[TheChucker]

No doubt the SCAC is in better shape than the ASC is concerning stability....but only marginally.

The ASC is finding out no one wants to join the conference.....

The SCAC could also be on shaky ground because it has multiple schools that have a histories of conference shopping/bouncing.

That could prove problematic for them. 

The SCAC isn't a conference of 10 programs that has tons of wiggle room for schools jumping ship.

It would only take 1-2 to put them on high alert.

While the ASC needs 2 more just to survive...... the SCAC also needs 2-3 more to give themselves some security.  The ASC is on life support.  But the SCAC isn't exactly on solid ground (yet) either.

JMHO.
 

The ASC is definitely on life support, and the time is rapidly approaching to pull the plug. There just don't appear to be any remaining options to save it, sadly.

It's becoming painfully clear that the Baptist Four's days in D3 are numbered, and each school needs to accept that fact and start weighing whether their respective futures lie in NAIA, D2, or in the case of UMHB and HSU, possibly FCS.

I highly doubt HSU and UMHB are viable candidates for FCS, especially HSU. HSU would have the second smallest undergrad enrollment in FCS (that prize goes to MS Valley State) and UMHB would be in the bottom 20%. Besides, D1 is so screwed up right now that it might be a good idea to wait to let it play out even if there were long term aspirations at that level.

[CNU85]

As a private voluntary association, I do not understand why the NCAA cannot create a "D3 without NIL".

Same reason why some dotard can spill hot coffee in his lap and sue McDonald's for serving hot coffee. Too many lawyers! 

That coffee was 180-190 degrees F and caused the claimant third-degree burns. She was in the hospital for eight days for skin grafting.

No doubt that there are many frivolous lawsuits, but Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants was not one of them!

I just checked the program of my Keurig that's part of my refrigerator. It heats at 180 before dispensing. So, perhaps I can burn myself and sue!

[ADL70]

The issue was not what it was heated to, but the temperature it was served at and what expectation a consumer is entitled to have. Legally there is an implied warranty that a product is fit for its intended purpose.

[Hawks88]

As a private voluntary association, I do not understand why the NCAA cannot create a "D3 without NIL".

Same reason why some dotard can spill hot coffee in his lap and sue McDonald's for serving hot coffee. Too many lawyers! 

That coffee was 180-190 degrees F and caused the claimant third-degree burns. She was in the hospital for eight days for skin grafting.

No doubt that there are many frivolous lawsuits, but Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants was not one of them!

I just checked the program of my Keurig that's part of my refrigerator. It heats at 180 before dispensing. So, perhaps I can burn myself and sue!

Just don't put a balm on it before the meeting with the Keurig lawyers. 

[ADL70]

You're a fool if you knowingly drink 180 coffee.