FB: American Southwest Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Does anyone reckon he gets a pay cut considering he is working with a lower division of college sports? I don't very often see those working from d1 down to d3.

Have to think he took a pay cut but it seems like UMHB has snagged a few coaches with the mindset of still wanting to be very competitive but just not on the D1 stress level. Also couldn't have hurt that the Big 12 offices are in Irving so he doesn't have to move to take the job.

He also just took his current position last year (September 2022) and may have decided trying to herd the cats of D1 compliance wasn't his cup of tea - tho he was an associate commisioner of that area for three years before that.   The chance to lead a conference with a perennial football championship contender, given his football background at UTEP, may just be what the doctor ordered and get him out of the compliance rut he'd been in most of his recent career. 

[crufootball]

Does anyone reckon he gets a pay cut considering he is working with a lower division of college sports? I don't very often see those working from d1 down to d3.

Have to think he took a pay cut but it seems like UMHB has snagged a few coaches with the mindset of still wanting to be very competitive but just not on the D1 stress level. Also couldn't have hurt that the Big 12 offices are in Irving so he doesn't have to move to take the job.

He also just took his current position last year (September 2022) and may have decided trying to herd the cats of D1 compliance wasn't his cup of tea - tho he was an associate commisioner of that area for three years before that.   The chance to lead a conference with a perennial football championship contender, given his football background at UTEP, may just be what the doctor ordered and get him out of the compliance rut he'd been in most of his recent career.

No matter what, it does seem to show that the remaining presidents of the ASC are not going to go quietly, getting a commissioner to go from the Big 12 to the Little 12 (old podcast reference) is a big time step in the right direction.

[Mavchamp]

Welcome Mavchamp to the board.  Good topics.

It's interesting to consider where ETBU might end up if the ASC continues to basically sit on its hands and force the football-playing schools to make a decision.  As someone who's been around since before the SAA came into being I don't see that as an option; they are focused on "national" liberal arts colleges (as classified by Carnegie) as the only school not in that category is Berry, who they needed to found the conference.  Additionally it would complicate travel (even more than the recent addition of Southwestern and Trinity) by forcing the eastern schools into a Hendrix-ETBU weekend for many sports - which would be a nasty long bus ride for the schools on the eastern side of the conference.  For Birmingham-Southern that would be over 1100 miles on buses in a weekend; for Berry, close to 1400.  The SAA broke from the SCAC for two reasons*:  (1) travel (2) academics.  Adding ETBU would impact both.  Adding Trinity and Southwestern was partially a survival move when it looked like Birmingham-Southern would be gone any day now, and still might not survive in the long run, but they both meet or exceed the academics that the conference prides itself on.  The combination of the two outweighed the travel considerations, and it's easy to fly in and out of either Austin or San Antonio.

I think the most likely SCAC scenario would be as a football affiliate if the ASC continues to be viable, though adding the Tigers as an 11th school wouldn't be too disruptive to scheduling and the SCAC has shown a recent willingness to accept schools that it wouldn't have in the past.  The SCAC needs a seventh football-playing school badly and there are still some questions in my mind at least about Schreiner actually getting its program going in time to earn a bid in 2025 or 2026 (I can't find a football coach there yet and you'd kinda think that would be one of the first things you'd announce).   Centenary, OTOH, has not only a coach and some assistants but a full blown JV-type schedule with scrimmages and some actual games for the upcoming season.  As far as HSU, HPU, UMHB, not sure the SCAC would want to add more than one more school as you start to see some scheduling challenges once you get past ten opponents.  But SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry continues to be innovative and surprising so I'd never say never. 

The most surprising thing about all this is the deafening radio silence from the ASC and the lack of any kind of noise from the remaining schools regarding the future of the conference.  Maybe the presidents are being told things we aren't, becase the drip ... drip ... drip of schools leaving and the continuing lack of a commissioner speaks volumes otherwise. 

* - some add a third, Trinity's dominance of the all-sports standings.

Good stuff.  Thanks!

IMHO.....the coalition of the "Baptist Four" seems pretty weak simply because two of them are national powers and the other two are middle of the road at best.  HPU has been mostly non competitive for the better part of two decades with mostly losing seasons.  ETBU is mired in mediocrity at (5-5) or (6-4) year after year.


If it weren't for this perceived (or real?) reluctance of several conferences to add UMHB or HSU to their fold.... that makes the coalition of the "Baptist Four" pretty weak IMHO.   

If that reluctance wasn't present.... one would think building a new football ASC with those four would be enticing to other schools... at least from a geographical standpoint.   But those conferences/schools don't seem interested.....and new start up programs would probably not be interested in being their punching bag either.  Why hand over a conference over on a platter to UMHB and HSU when you can have a competitive conference that sees a different champion from year to year?

Obviously ETBU and HPU are nowhere near the same zip code in football competitiveness that UMHB and HSU are in....and neither are good candidates for D2.  It begs the question that maybe NAIA is the answer for one or both of them.

I don't know what the financials would be moving to scholarships in NAIA.  But having "local" rivals like Louisiana Christian, Texas College, SAGU, Texas Wesleyan, and Wayland from the Sooner Conference might make sense for ETBU and HPU. 

BUT.... that could be problematic too.  ETBU currently has 125+ men show up for football every year...most of them paying tuition.  If they move to NAIA and offer scholarships....even if it's just a few/limited.... do they lose a chunk of that 150-180 paying students?

But geographically....and in enrollment comparison....and endowment comparisons..... the Sooner Conference makes perfect sense.

But it would possibly make filling the non-conference portion of the schedule....esp with ex-ASC rivals.

I guess selfishly I'm hoping the SCAC and ETBU can work something out........but I'm not opposed to the NAIA move either.

I know some people scream that NCAA D-3 is more appealing/prestigious than the NAIA....but outside of the D3 and/or NAIA circles.... can the average person even name who won the 2022 national championship from EITHER?  I doubt it.  So....if it doesn't matter.... why not make the jump?

As frustrated as I am with the leadership of the ASC in all of this to shore up the conference (not sure football can be saved at this point)..... I'm MORE frustrated with the seemingly inaction with ETBU's athletic administration.  ACT.....don't wait to REACT.

[jekelish]

Good stuff.  Thanks!

IMHO.....the coalition of the "Baptist Four" seems pretty weak simply because two of them are national powers and the other two are middle of the road at best.  HPU has been mostly non competitive for the better part of two decades with mostly losing seasons.  ETBU is mired in mediocrity at (5-5) or (6-4) year after year.


If it weren't for this perceived (or real?) reluctance* of several conferences to add UMHB or HSU to their fold.... that makes the coalition of the "Baptist Four" pretty weak IMHO.   

If that reluctance wasn't present.... one would think building a new football ASC with those four would be enticing to other schools... at least from a geographical standpoint.   But those conferences/schools don't seem interested.....and new start up programs would probably not be interested in being their punching bag either.  Why hand over a conference over on a platter to UMHB and HSU when you can have a competitive conference that sees a different champion from year to year?

Obviously ETBU and HPU are nowhere near the same zip code in football competitiveness that UMHB and HSU are in....and neither are good candidates for D2.  It begs the question that maybe NAIA is the answer for one or both of them.

I don't know what the financials would be moving to scholarships in NAIA.  But having "local" rivals like Louisiana Christian, Texas College, SAGU, Texas Wesleyan, and Wayland from the Sooner Conference might make sense for ETBU and HPU. 

BUT.... that could be problematic too.  ETBU currently has 125+ men show up for football every year...most of them paying tuition.  If they move to NAIA and offer scholarships....even if it's just a few/limited.... do they lose a chunk of that 150-180 paying students?

But geographically....and in enrollment comparison....and endowment comparisons..... the Sooner Conference makes perfect sense.

But it would possibly make filling the non-conference portion of the schedule....esp with ex-ASC rivals.

I guess selfishly I'm hoping the SCAC and ETBU can work something out**........but I'm not opposed to the NAIA move either.

I know some people scream that NCAA D-3 is more appealing/prestigious than the NAIA....but outside of the D3 and/or NAIA circles.... can the average person even name who won the 2022 national championship from EITHER?  I doubt it.  So....if it doesn't matter.... why not make the jump?

As frustrated as I am with the leadership of the ASC in all of this to shore up the conference (not sure football can be saved at this point)..... I'm MORE frustrated with the seemingly inaction with ETBU's athletic administration.  ACT.....don't wait to REACT.

* I can tell you, it's definitely not perceived. It's very, very real. I can tell you with certainty, schools are trying to get away from UMHB and HSU. Who knows what will happen in the future, but it's definitely very real.

** My understanding here is that it's also highly unlikely that the SCAC would reach out to ETBU. Again, things can change. But the buzz I've heard is that, no, that's not gonna happen.

[Mavchamp]

* I can tell you, it's definitely not perceived. It's very, very real. I can tell you with certainty, schools are trying to get away from UMHB and HSU. Who knows what will happen in the future, but it's definitely very real.

** My understanding here is that it's also highly unlikely that the SCAC would reach out to ETBU. Again, things can change. But the buzz I've heard is that, no, that's not gonna happen.

There's no doubt there's some ambivalence towards UMHB and HSU in football by other ASC members.   Is that the sole reason they are jumping ship?  I can't say for sure.  It certainly looks that way.

I'm wondering why the SCAC may not interested in ETBU.  If it's geography...I kind of get it.  But with AC and TLU there....I think it's questionbable.

If it's academics..... the acceptance rate at ETBU is comparable to the old SCAC at 64% and is ranked nationally by the US and World report annually.  So that's fuzzy.

If it's the Baptist ties....not much we can do about that.  That's not changing.

Starting to think NAIA may be the best route for the Tigers. 

Functioning as an independent doesn't seem appealing at all.

Maybe the ASC can pull a rabbit out of their hat.

[TheChucker]

Welcome Mavchamp to the board.  Good topics.

It's interesting to consider where ETBU might end up if the ASC continues to basically sit on its hands and force the football-playing schools to make a decision.  As someone who's been around since before the SAA came into being I don't see that as an option; they are focused on "national" liberal arts colleges (as classified by Carnegie) as the only school not in that category is Berry, who they needed to found the conference.  Additionally it would complicate travel (even more than the recent addition of Southwestern and Trinity) by forcing the eastern schools into a Hendrix-ETBU weekend for many sports - which would be a nasty long bus ride for the schools on the eastern side of the conference.  For Birmingham-Southern that would be over 1100 miles on buses in a weekend; for Berry, close to 1400.  The SAA broke from the SCAC for two reasons*:  (1) travel (2) academics.  Adding ETBU would impact both.  Adding Trinity and Southwestern was partially a survival move when it looked like Birmingham-Southern would be gone any day now, and still might not survive in the long run, but they both meet or exceed the academics that the conference prides itself on.  The combination of the two outweighed the travel considerations, and it's easy to fly in and out of either Austin or San Antonio.

I think the most likely SCAC scenario would be as a football affiliate if the ASC continues to be viable, though adding the Tigers as an 11th school wouldn't be too disruptive to scheduling and the SCAC has shown a recent willingness to accept schools that it wouldn't have in the past.  The SCAC needs a seventh football-playing school badly and there are still some questions in my mind at least about Schreiner actually getting its program going in time to earn a bid in 2025 or 2026 (I can't find a football coach there yet and you'd kinda think that would be one of the first things you'd announce).   Centenary, OTOH, has not only a coach and some assistants but a full blown JV-type schedule with scrimmages and some actual games for the upcoming season.  As far as HSU, HPU, UMHB, not sure the SCAC would want to add more than one more school as you start to see some scheduling challenges once you get past ten opponents.  But SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry continues to be innovative and surprising so I'd never say never. 

The most surprising thing about all this is the deafening radio silence from the ASC and the lack of any kind of noise from the remaining schools regarding the future of the conference.  Maybe the presidents are being told things we aren't, becase the drip ... drip ... drip of schools leaving and the continuing lack of a commissioner speaks volumes otherwise. 

* - some add a third, Trinity's dominance of the all-sports standings.

Good stuff.  Thanks!

IMHO.....the coalition of the "Baptist Four" seems pretty weak simply because two of them are national powers and the other two are middle of the road at best.  HPU has been mostly non competitive for the better part of two decades with mostly losing seasons.  ETBU is mired in mediocrity at (5-5) or (6-4) year after year.


If it weren't for this perceived (or real?) reluctance of several conferences to add UMHB or HSU to their fold.... that makes the coalition of the "Baptist Four" pretty weak IMHO.   

If that reluctance wasn't present.... one would think building a new football ASC with those four would be enticing to other schools... at least from a geographical standpoint.   But those conferences/schools don't seem interested.....and new start up programs would probably not be interested in being their punching bag either.  Why hand over a conference over on a platter to UMHB and HSU when you can have a competitive conference that sees a different champion from year to year?

Obviously ETBU and HPU are nowhere near the same zip code in football competitiveness that UMHB and HSU are in....and neither are good candidates for D2.  It begs the question that maybe NAIA is the answer for one or both of them.

I don't know what the financials would be moving to scholarships in NAIA.  But having "local" rivals like Louisiana Christian, Texas College, SAGU, Texas Wesleyan, and Wayland from the Sooner Conference might make sense for ETBU and HPU. 

BUT.... that could be problematic too.  ETBU currently has 125+ men show up for football every year...most of them paying tuition.  If they move to NAIA and offer scholarships....even if it's just a few/limited.... do they lose a chunk of that 150-180 paying students?

But geographically....and in enrollment comparison....and endowment comparisons..... the Sooner Conference makes perfect sense.

But it would possibly make filling the non-conference portion of the schedule....esp with ex-ASC rivals.

I guess selfishly I'm hoping the SCAC and ETBU can work something out........but I'm not opposed to the NAIA move either.

I know some people scream that NCAA D-3 is more appealing/prestigious than the NAIA....but outside of the D3 and/or NAIA circles.... can the average person even name who won the 2022 national championship from EITHER?  I doubt it.  So....if it doesn't matter.... why not make the jump?

As frustrated as I am with the leadership of the ASC in all of this to shore up the conference (not sure football can be saved at this point)..... I'm MORE frustrated with the seemingly inaction with ETBU's athletic administration.  ACT.....don't wait to REACT.

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

[Mavchamp]

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

Options are running out
The ASC appears to be dissolving for football at least.  Hard to imagine anyone wants to join with the UMHB and HSU juggernauts.
ACAC and SAA don't seem to be options at the moment
D2 doesn't seem to be a viable choice at this time
NAIA isn't really APPEALING...but may be the best TEMPORARY answer
D3 independent doesn't seem to be a good decision either.  Makes wild travel and very difficult to make the playoffs.

[Riley Zayas]

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

Options are running out
The ASC appears to be dissolving for football at least.  Hard to imagine anyone wants to join with the UMHB and HSU juggernauts.
ACAC and SAA don't seem to be options at the moment
D2 doesn't seem to be a viable choice at this time
NAIA isn't really APPEALING...but may be the best TEMPORARY answer
D3 independent doesn't seem to be a good decision either.  Makes wild travel and very difficult to make the playoffs.

I don't think the ASC will last without football. Because that means the Baptist 4 need to find homes as affiliates. Does the C2C merge with the ASC? Might be a possibility considering both leagues need additional members. But do they want to sign up for cross-country trips for conference games? Could potentially work something out, but I think it would need to be for all sports, not just football.

[Ron Boerger]

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

Options are running out
The ASC appears to be dissolving for football at least.  Hard to imagine anyone wants to join with the UMHB and HSU juggernauts.
ACAC and SAA don't seem to be options at the moment
D2 doesn't seem to be a viable choice at this time
NAIA isn't really APPEALING...but may be the best TEMPORARY answer
D3 independent doesn't seem to be a good decision either.  Makes wild travel and very difficult to make the playoffs.

I don't think the ASC will last without football. Because that means the Baptist 4 need to find homes as affiliates. Does the C2C merge with the ASC? Might be a possibility considering both leagues need additional members. But do they want to sign up for cross-country trips for conference games? Could potentially work something out, but I think it would need to be for all sports, not just football.

I can't see this guy leaving what had to be a better-paying gig in the Big 12 to take on the ASC commissioner role without some kind of plan for the conference's future in mind.   

[Riley Zayas]

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

Options are running out
The ASC appears to be dissolving for football at least.  Hard to imagine anyone wants to join with the UMHB and HSU juggernauts.
ACAC and SAA don't seem to be options at the moment
D2 doesn't seem to be a viable choice at this time
NAIA isn't really APPEALING...but may be the best TEMPORARY answer
D3 independent doesn't seem to be a good decision either.  Makes wild travel and very difficult to make the playoffs.

I don't think the ASC will last without football. Because that means the Baptist 4 need to find homes as affiliates. Does the C2C merge with the ASC? Might be a possibility considering both leagues need additional members. But do they want to sign up for cross-country trips for conference games? Could potentially work something out, but I think it would need to be for all sports, not just football.

I can't see this guy leaving what had to be a better-paying gig in the Big 12 to take on the ASC commissioner role without some kind of plan for the conference's future in mind.

For sure. But I'm guessing that he is planning keeping the football AQ (or obviously exhausting every resource to try to). All I'm saying is that Mavchamp's thought of the ASC losing its football AQ but remaining as a D3 conference does not appear likely.

[crufootball]

I just looked up two traditional NAIA football power rosters, Morningside and Northwestern, for kicks and grins. They listed 158 and 137 players respectively last year. That might indicate roster size limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Edit add: TX Wesleyan listed 155. Ottawa U AZ 181. Both Sooner Conference. That said, though I don't follow this stuff closely, I've rarely heard of a healthy D3 school like ETBU moving to NAIA in the modern era. I doubt that's the answer.

Options are running out
The ASC appears to be dissolving for football at least.  Hard to imagine anyone wants to join with the UMHB and HSU juggernauts.
ACAC and SAA don't seem to be options at the moment
D2 doesn't seem to be a viable choice at this time
NAIA isn't really APPEALING...but may be the best TEMPORARY answer
D3 independent doesn't seem to be a good decision either.  Makes wild travel and very difficult to make the playoffs.

I don't think the ASC will last without football. Because that means the Baptist 4 need to find homes as affiliates. Does the C2C merge with the ASC? Might be a possibility considering both leagues need additional members. But do they want to sign up for cross-country trips for conference games? Could potentially work something out, but I think it would need to be for all sports, not just football.

I can't see this guy leaving what had to be a better-paying gig in the Big 12 to take on the ASC commissioner role without some kind of plan for the conference's future in mind.

I must say I got some well desired confidence when I saw the new commissioner, you don't go out and get a guy like that if you don't have a plan as a conference for the future. Who knows what that plan is but I would bet the Presidents and ADs at least think they know where they will be playing football in a couple of years.

[Mavchamp]

I must say I got some well desired confidence when I saw the new commissioner, you don't go out and get a guy like that if you don't have a plan as a conference for the future. Who knows what that plan is but I would bet the Presidents and ADs at least think they know where they will be playing football in a couple of years.

The ASC surviving is what's really best for the 4 remaining schools IMHO.  But it seems like an uphill battle.  How do you recruit schools that realize that getting pummeled by UMHB and HSU annually are likely.

Then again....they might be getting pummeled in their current conference. 

Picking off any current D3 schools seems like a long shot....basically eliminating Hendrix, Lyon, and any of the former ASC schools.

Who does that leave?  NAIA schools that may consider moving to D3 or some D2 schools that may consider dropping.


Regional NAIA: 
Arkansas Baptist (Little Rock Ar)
Louisiana Christian (Pineville, La)
North American University (Stafford, Tx)
SAGU (Waxahachie, Tx)
Texas College (Tyler, Tx)
Texas Wesleyan (Fort Worth, Tx)
Wayland Baptist (Plainview, Tx)

I don't think Texas College has won a conference game in their history in the Sooner conference.  Cutting that travel budget may appeal to them.  Wayland Baptist has a losing record against everyone in the conference too.  Texas Weleyan hasn't been much better it seems and NAU is bad too.  Maybe the ASC can land several from the Sooner conference. 

They are already taking their lumps in that conference with bigger travel expenditures.... come to the ASC.... have less travel....and you become no scholarship.  Could be a win/win

Mary Hardin Baylor
Hardin Simmons
East Texas Baptist
Howard Payne
Wayland Baptist
Texas Wesleyan
North American
Texas College

All within Texas.  Louisiana College and Arkansas Baptist may would follow to make a 10 team conference...but the travel for those two would be a wash from their current NAIA conferences.

So I guess there's hope if those Sooner Conference schools are interested in a Texas-only type conference.  Could be fun.

[Riley Zayas]

I must say I got some well desired confidence when I saw the new commissioner, you don't go out and get a guy like that if you don't have a plan as a conference for the future. Who knows what that plan is but I would bet the Presidents and ADs at least think they know where they will be playing football in a couple of years.

The ASC surviving is what's really best for the 4 remaining schools IMHO.  But it seems like an uphill battle.  How do you recruit schools that realize that getting pummeled by UMHB and HSU annually are likely.

Then again....they might be getting pummeled in their current conference. 

Picking off any current D3 schools seems like a long shot....basically eliminating Hendrix, Lyon, and any of the former ASC schools.

Who does that leave?  NAIA schools that may consider moving to D3 or some D2 schools that may consider dropping.


Regional NAIA: 
Arkansas Baptist (Little Rock Ar)
Louisiana Christian (Pineville, La)
North American University (Stafford, Tx)
SAGU (Waxahachie, Tx)
Texas College (Tyler, Tx)
Texas Wesleyan (Fort Worth, Tx)
Wayland Baptist (Plainview, Tx)

I don't think Texas College has won a conference game in their history in the Sooner conference.  Cutting that travel budget may appeal to them.  Wayland Baptist has a losing record against everyone in the conference too.  Texas Weleyan hasn't been much better it seems and NAU is bad too.  Maybe the ASC can land several from the Sooner conference. 

They are already taking their lumps in that conference with bigger travel expenditures.... come to the ASC.... have less travel....and you become no scholarship.  Could be a win/win

Mary Hardin Baylor
Hardin Simmons
East Texas Baptist
Howard Payne
Wayland Baptist
Texas Wesleyan
North American
Texas College

All within Texas.  Louisiana College and Arkansas Baptist may would follow to make a 10 team conference...but the travel for those two would be a wash from their current NAIA conferences.

So I guess there's hope if those Sooner Conference schools are interested in a Texas-only type conference.  Could be fun.

Serious question...I know the ASC is in survival mode but what would be the advantage to going after bad NAIA teams?

If they're bad in NAIA, likely chance they'll struggle in D3. Especially because a lot of the recruiting model at NAIAs is built on the ability to offer scholarships.

[Mavchamp]

Serious question...I know the ASC is in survival mode but what would be the advantage to going after bad NAIA teams?

If they're bad in NAIA, likely chance they'll struggle in D3. Especially because a lot of the recruiting model at NAIAs is built on the ability to offer scholarships.

IMHO...when you are in survival mode you do whatever you can just to continue. 

Going after bad NAIA teams isn't a great choice...but isn't extinction as a conference worse?

[Riley Zayas]

Serious question...I know the ASC is in survival mode but what would be the advantage to going after bad NAIA teams?

If they're bad in NAIA, likely chance they'll struggle in D3. Especially because a lot of the recruiting model at NAIAs is built on the ability to offer scholarships.

IMHO...when you are in survival mode you do whatever you can just to continue. 

Going after bad NAIA teams isn't a great choice...but isn't extinction as a conference worse?

Sure. And I get it. Bad NAIAs are more likely to leave NAIA, although I don't think it is realized how big of a transition it is to go from having scholarships available to having to change your entire way of recruiting as a non-scholarship institution. NAIA to D3 is more of a lateral move which makes it challenging. Especially because NAIA has been proven to be better financially for schools in comparison to the NCAA. But I definitely agree. If the ASC is going to stick around as a D3 conference, they need to go and find football programs to fill the void. Shorter travel might be the best selling point to some of those NAIAs, as Mavchamp already mentioned.

Just my opinion, but if UMHB played in a more competitive league (and probably same for HSU), I guarantee the interest in football and the attendance would increase in a very positive way. Looking like that will only be found at the D2 level.