FB: American Southwest Conference

[LaCollegeFan]

Alright so lets see what everyone thinks. Does UMHB take care of business? Or does LC pull of the upset? Is the score close? Or a blowout? I'll take LC because they know if they lose this one, then it's probably no postseason.

[bleedpurple]

Alright so lets see what everyone thinks. Does UMHB take care of business? Or does LC pull of the upset? Is the score close? Or a blowout? I'll take LC because they know if they lose this one, then it's probably no postseason.

UMHB  42
LC       24

[UMHB03]

Any word on when Wilson will return for UMHB?

The 1-2 punch of him and Hudson would be nearly unstoppable.

I've heard nothing, but seeing how Carpenter when down this week, looks like it may not be as bad as once thought, I'd say if he can be back this week, he'll be back. This is a big game at LC. They are tough! Our guys will have to bring it.

Article in today's paper said that Darius should be able to play Saturday. I also saw him at the gym and he looks ready to go!

Great news. Thanks for sharing.

[umhb2001]

Alright so lets see what everyone thinks. Does UMHB take care of business? Or does LC pull of the upset? Is the score close? Or a blowout? I'll take LC because they know if they lose this one, then it's probably no postseason.

I'm not sure, but I know LC always plays tough at home. I'll take UMHB by 2 TD's: 42-28.

[McM Blue Devil]

49-21 UMHB.  The final score will make it seem closer than it really will be.

[umhb2001]

49-21 UMHB.  The final score will make it seem closer than it really will be.

How are things this season for McMurry?

[d3Kyle]

49-21 UMHB.  The final score will make it seem closer than it really will be.

How are things this season for McMurry?

3-2

Lost to Top 10 D2 School Abilene Christian
Lost to D1 FCS McNeese State
Beat Wayland Baptist (first year football program)
Beat Okla. Panhandle State (the other IND D2 FB school from Heartland)
Beat Southern Nazarene (first year in D2 as well)

Has D1 FCS Lamar, D2 Incarnate Word, NAIA Langston (NAIA Playoffs 09-11), NAIA Texas College, NAIA Bacone, and an international game with the University of Mexico

[d3Kyle]

49-21 UMHB.  The final score will make it seem closer than it really will be.

How are things this season for McMurry?

3-2

Lost to Top 10 D2 School Abilene Christian
Lost to D1 FCS McNeese State
Beat Wayland Baptist (first year football program)
Beat Okla. Panhandle State (the other IND D2 FB school from Heartland)
Beat Southern Nazarene (first year in D2 as well)

Has D1 FCS Lamar, D2 Incarnate Word, NAIA Langston (NAIA Playoffs 09-11), NAIA Texas College, NAIA Bacone, and an international game with the University of Mexico

... *left to play

[Josh Bowerman]

Seems like I missed quite the discussion last week.  Reminds me of the good old days!

FWIW, my personal opinion on UMHB's rise to prominence in ASC football has as much to do with location and timing as it does money and budgets.  Sure, the school has budgeted significantly for football, but UMHB is still the most centrally-located Texas school playing football in the ASC.  They can easily recruit from all four of the state's biggest cities--DFW, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.  Being in the Belton/Temple/Waco/College Station corridor is nice, too. 

Though it's hard to quantify, I would not underestimate the attraction of players being able to be away from home and on their own, but also being close enough to their family in case of emergency.  For a group of Texas kids that may or may not have really ever travelled too far away from home, this is an attraction.  I know it was for me when I left Hamlin for HSU. 

Anyway, I really think location is the only inheirent "advantage" UMHB has over other ASC football playing schools in the recruiting area.

Additionally, I think it's worth noting that the new football programs at UTSA and Incarnate Word have spread the DIII talent in Texas even thinner over the last few years--so UMHB got a little lucky (institutionally speaking) timing-wise in the recruiting department that they were on the upswing when those other schools added the sport and starting picking off kids that might have found their way onto ASC rosters otherwise.  If the pool is smaller, the better players are going to want to go where they have the chance to be the most successful--all other things being equal or close to equal.

Just some random thoughts that may or may not have any grounding in reality.

[Ron Boerger]

Interesting link from the "What we're reading" section on the front page looks at the recent ASC changes from LC's perspective.  Talks about D2, inviting teams to the conference, other ASC schools looking at FB ...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/DK/20121011/SPORTS/210110310/ASC-explores-options-after-announced-departure

[Ralph Turner]

Interesting link from the "What we're reading" section on the front page looks at the recent ASC changes from LC's perspective.  Talks about D2, inviting teams to the conference, other ASC schools looking at FB ...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/DK/20121011/SPORTS/210110310/ASC-explores-options-after-announced-departure

I have to think that the "inviting some schools to join the conference" is just a stock reply.

To whom do you send the invitation that matches the mission/vision (football schools are in italics) ?

NAIA:
Southwestern Assemblies of God
U of Houston -Victoria
Wayland Baptist
Texas College (in Tyler)
Jarvis Christian (in Hawkins)
Wiley College (in Marshall)
LSU-Shreveport
LSU-Alexandria
Texas Wesleyan (been there, done that and left us on the way from D-II to the NAIA)
Paul Quinn (in Dallas)
Huston-Tillotson (Austin)
Northwood Institute (Dallas suburb Cedar Hill)
UT-Brownsville
Bacone OK
Langston OK
Our Lady of the Lake (San Antonio)
Univ of the Southwest (in Hobbs NM)

[awadelewis]

Interesting link from the "What we're reading" section on the front page looks at the recent ASC changes from LC's perspective.  Talks about D2, inviting teams to the conference, other ASC schools looking at FB ...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/DK/20121011/SPORTS/210110310/ASC-explores-options-after-announced-departure

The most shocking point about this article is that the Lafayette paper even published an article about LC. It's tough enough at times to get them to acknowledge the D-I program that has their stadium across the street from The Advertiser's offices, let alone admit that a D3 program in the area is worth covering.

That said, there doesn't seem to be a lot of options open to LC beyond staying in the ASC.   I would think that a move to D2 would be tough for them because of the need to fund scholarships beyond just football.    And I'd agree with Ralph about who you would add new... only SWAG sounds like a good candidate to jump ship out of the NAIA ranks

[Ron Boerger]

Best bet is probably to convince one of the existing non-FB ASC schools to add it.   You gotta think either of the UT schools could easily do it and be competitive very quickly (if perhaps not with UMHB).

[LaCollegeFan]

I believe you can cross LSU-A off that list. I just couldn't see them attempting to do that. LSU-S I might could see but seriously doubt that one as well. In my opinion, the only schools who could add football would have to be a Texas school, reason being of the amount of talent they would have around them to start off with. Never know though, because the opportunity to have more enrollment could change a lot of schools minds.

[d3Kyle]

Interesting link from the "What we're reading" section on the front page looks at the recent ASC changes from LC's perspective.  Talks about D2, inviting teams to the conference, other ASC schools looking at FB ...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/DK/20121011/SPORTS/210110310/ASC-explores-options-after-announced-departure

The most shocking point about this article is that the Lafayette paper even published an article about LC. It's tough enough at times to get them to acknowledge the D-I program that has their stadium across the street from The Advertiser's offices, let alone admit that a D3 program in the area is worth covering.

That said, there doesn't seem to be a lot of options open to LC beyond staying in the ASC.   I would think that a move to D2 would be tough for them because of the need to fund scholarships beyond just football.    And I'd agree with Ralph about who you would add new... only SWAG sounds like a good candidate to jump ship out of the NAIA ranks

Note that there are many, many Division II schools that don't raise the money to have a "physical" scholarship fund for athletics. This is often off-set by a combination of "physical" athletic scholarship funds and tuition discounts that serve as scholarships. Two unique things about D2 are 1) If an athlete walks on without an athletic scholarship - the amount of financial aid that student can receive is significantly reduced than that of a student in the gen pop; thus making them a more "full-paying" customer - enough of these types of walkons can offset the costs of scholarships or discounts 2) Of course D2 can split their 36 scholly's - you can entice bubble kids with something as little as $500 a semester in scholarship (reasons to do this - keep them from going to non-scholarship school in case they develop into more formidable players; and two obviously make the 36 scholly's stretch for the needs of a 60-80 man roster)

I left McMurry recently - and they took an almost exclusive tuition discount approach to their scholarship model in transition to D2.
Institutions have to consider the pressure on coaches to produce walk-ons and admissions departments must maintain or better their numbers. Best-case scenario, it can actually generate more revenue for your school or it could be quite the opposite.

One more note - those walkons won't stay forever if they don't receive a scholarship or get on the field - they'll find some place else to play, which means a constant battle for coaches to produce walkons, not only every year, but every semester.