FB: American Southwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

In honor of Ralph, who took to the whole concept of moving to Division III as "moving up" even more than I did, I posted that piece with the same type of wording. Sad to see McMurry go and hope Ralph doesn't follow.

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks for the kind words, Pat.

The major downside for me is trying to find even some of the resources for D-2 athletics on the internet that match the platform that we fans have on D3sports.com.  IMHO, the D2messageboard.com is chaotic to me!

This has been an enjoyable decade for me.  I started following this web site in spring 2000. I have many D3 fans, and will continue to follow and contribute as I can.

The official spokespersons of the institution are AD Ron Holmes and SID Kyle Robarts.  I will honor their jobs.  Over the next few days, there should be more information coming out.  I honestly believe that the institution acted in the best interest of the university.  NCAA President Cedric Dempsey met with key McMurry individuals in August 2010 to advise the university on the various strengths of the divisions as they relate to McMurry.  As it stands now, McMurry will be only the third private football-playing D2 school in Texas.  The other two are Incarnate Word in San Antonio which is Catholic, and Abilene Christian, with ties to the Church of Christ.  We see that as a niche that reaches our student profile.  We even have respectable numbers of Catholic and Church of Christ students on our campus.

There are many things happening with respect to mission, vision, outreach, church-school relations, recruiting and institutional development.  This is a dynamic time in this part of the country, e.g., population shifts out of McMurry's traditional base in the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, and athletic conference realignments in all three divisions, e.g., the split up of the Lone Star Conference by the OK schools, and the NAIA.


To imagine the Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Conference, Abilene is almost the southeasternmost point in the conference.  Now draw a line north to the Oklahoma border along the 100th meridian of longitude.  Next draw a line west to Midland Tx (but not Odessa).  The conference extends to the Oklahoma Panhandle.  The other conference that sponsors McMurry is the New Mexico Conference.  Odessa Texas is almost the southeasternmost point in that conference which extends to west to El Paso and includes basically all of New Mexico.  That conference is experiencing population growth, especially among Hispanics, of which we have a good number.

[Toby Taff]

Congratulations to Koby Parker, HSU Junior...named on the Associated Press First Team Little All-American!  (Offensive lineman)

Wow...that IS news about McMurry...

Will anyone tell us which other D-II schools there are "in the area"...and what is the likely conference?

Is this a move "up" or "down"...the article says "down from Division III to Division II." 

There are a number of DII schools in the area.  As Ralph noted ACU is DII, but they are getting ready to make the move to D1 FCS. Also included are Tarleton State, West Texas A&M, A&M Kingsville, Midwestern State, Incarnate Word, and the list goes on if you include Oklahoma schools.

[Toby Taff]

Ralph,
I think that it is exciting news for McMurry and the city of Abilene.  I think the jump will be good for an already to notch track and field program.  The football team is in good hands for the transition with Mumme at the helm, and BB and hoops should be able to transition well.  It will be fun to watch the changes, and who knows, maybe your depth of knowledge will give order to the chaos of the d2 boards and make it worth reading.

[umhbalum]

This is exciting news. I wonder how this will impact recruiting in the ASC especially HSU. Don't forget the McMurry Baseball team has always competed at a high level and now they have Scholarships along with a top notch facility to attract kids. I know that when I made the decision to play baseball at McMurry the facilities and coaches  was the deciding factor for me. I eventually left after my freshman year for a scholarship to play junior college baseball but I only left because of the money to help pay for school. Scholarships should help retain talent as well.

[D O.C.]

Breaking away from the Stagg with the Mc news, Ralph. Going to miss your counterbalance to our baffoonery.
Thanks.

[kate]

Ralph, i certainly do not know you, but will genuinely miss your posts on the basketball site.  Merry Christmas to you and best luck to McMurry.  Kate from the MAC Freedom, specifically Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA

[Ralph Turner]

Thank you, Kate.

Thanks, DOC.

[(509)Rat]

What do the Hardin-Simmons folks think? I mean, you got McMurry gaining 30 something scholarships and ACU potentially adding 30 something as well. Does 60 more scholarships mean the Feasters and Robbins come less frequently? Or is there just so much talent in the state that nobody will know the difference?

[cowboyfan]

509,

HSU has ALWAYS been able to get the Feasters and Robbins of the world. The tradition of football and the history of success with the program speaks for itself. Don't forget HSU was able to land Feaster from a scholarship program in UNT. HSU made a smart choice to hire Jesse as the new head coach. He has been involved in recruiting for the last few years and i don't think we'll see much drop off. I do wonder though if we can continue to cross town show down. Be nice to beat a Division II school once a year. Good luck to McMurrry.

[McM Blue Devil]

Easy Cowboy Fan.

[D O.C.]

Congrats to Quincy. I hope coming back was somehow worth it all.

[(509)Rat]

Landed Feaster as in you won the recruiting war or convinced him to transfer? I only ask because a monkey could talk an 18 year old out of playing for a team who has the coaches kid as the starting QB...with (at the time) another one potentially on the way.

Sounds like there is plenty of talent to go around...60 scholarships probably equates to about 100 kids getting some $$$ from ACU and McM.

[crufootball]

HSU loses a few more coaches.

http://hsuathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-11/releases/wartes_niemann

[roocru]

My grandson is here!!! Jackson Bret Page was born at 12:28pm today. Obviously he will be a lineman.  He weighed 10 lbs 7 ozs and was 21 3/4" long. Mother and baby are doing great and the father is beaming!  Granddad is pretty happy as well.