FB: American Southwest Conference

[Etchglow]

In other UMHB news, it looks like they will be looking for a new OL coach as Alex Farah has moved on to Butler University.  Additionally former Hardin-Simmons standout Davonte Nephew has committed to UMHB after a stint at Texas A&M Kingsville.

Yes and no, technically we are replacing Cameron Norcross who was hired in mid February (https://cruathletics.com/news/2025/2/13/football-cameron-norcross-named-offensive-line-coach.aspx) but left for FCS member Montana (https://footballscoop.com/news/sources-fcs-power-montana-finds-new-offensive-line-coach-with-sec-experience). I am sure it is a bigger paying gig then UMHB but it stinks as he had legit D1 experience.

Doh, missed that or forgot about it lol.  Actually, the more I think I forgot... Farah just posted about packing up to move which is why I mentioned it.

[The Third Division]

What if the ASC gets a championship game to limit the non-conference schedule?

[AAFES]

Not making annual treks to northern Arkansas (maybe multiple) and Colorado for several sports might have been a factor.

If my spreadsheet fu is working, and the NCAA travel calculator is working...  (for All of the SCAC schools, not just football)

The Average trip distance for McMurry goes from ~358 to ~160 with the shortest trip being HSU at 4 miles and longest trip ETBU at 336.

For Schreiner, the average trip distance goes from ~378 to ~216.  All around, much less travel.

On a funny note, I was lazy and asked ChatGPT what the religious affiliations of the DIII Texas universities and it thought UMHB was going DII as of the fall of 2024 .

The 358 miles to 160 miles per contest for 10 years is at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expense.

Please remember that UOzarks, Miss  College and SRSU were charter members in 1996. They needed each other to get D3 of the ground in this part of the country. UDallas, McM, Austin College, HPU & HSU were glad to have them.

Not making annual treks to northern Arkansas (maybe multiple) and Colorado for several sports might have been a factor.

If my spreadsheet fu is working, and the NCAA travel calculator is working...  (for All of the SCAC schools, not just football)

The Average trip distance for McMurry goes from ~358 to ~160 with the shortest trip being HSU at 4 miles and longest trip ETBU at 336.

For Schreiner, the average trip distance goes from ~378 to ~216.  All around, much less travel.

On a funny note, I was lazy and asked ChatGPT what the religious affiliations of the DIII Texas universities and it thought UMHB was going DII as of the fall of 2024 .

The 358 miles to 160 miles per contest for 10 years is at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expense.

Please remember that UOzarks, Miss  College and SRSU were charter members in 1996. They needed each other to get D3 of the ground in this part of the country. UDallas, McM, Austin College, HPU & HSU were glad to have them.

[AAFES]

When the ASC started it was really just a name change from the TIAA by the commissioner motivated by the fact that schools from outside Texas were becoming members.  I remember the meeting in Abilene well hosted by McMurry.  The Mississippi College delegation flew in on a private jet provided by the founder of Excel Communications.

[Crubacker]

Etchglow--------------any updates to transfers or commits?

[Etchglow]

Etchglow--------------any updates to transfers or commits?

Honestly, been so busy with Lawyer stuff for dad I haven't really been keeping up.  Most recent transfer was Davonte Nephew who was 2nd team All-ASC at CB for Hardin-Simmons in 2022.  Something happened and he only played a couple of games in 2023 then transferred to TAMUK for 2024.  He didn't play there and committed to UMHB recently. 

[Crubacker]

No problem, totally understand.  Family first buddy!!!

[ASCleatus]

What if the ASC gets a championship game to limit the non-conference schedule?

I like the idea of single round robin and then top 2 in standings play again for championship, kinda like what MIAC does.

only works once they get back to 6 teams, and that still leaves 4 non conference games. a 6 team conference without a champ game leaves teams needing FIVE non conference games, which is worse than double round robin schedule. having a double round robin and championship game would be insane.

hope is that with McM leaving their conference, TLU and AC have to come back to ASC, 8-9 teams is a good number of conference teams. imo less than 2 non conference games is bad, more than 3 is too hard to find.

[Ralph Turner]

I think that Lyon would be more competitive in the UMAC, with whom Westminster is an affiliate.
The travel would be horrendous.

[Mavchamp]

I know several Sooner Athletic Conference schools have been mentioned as possibilities for both the ASC and the SCAC for recruiting.

Which somewhat begs the question.....

Why has Wayland Baptst shown no interest in D3?  Particularly in the ASC with 4 other Baptist institutions?

Seems like it would be a perfect fit on several levels.....both athletic and otherwise.

It's not like WBU is a powerhouse in the SAC.....particularly in football.  They are dominated by most of the SAC in football.  So....why the reluctance to the same outcome Vs the ASC?  At least you would be surrounded by common peers.

Seems like it would be appealing to them....not to mention immediate built in rivalry in all sports Vs. HSU and McMurry.

Or do they just have no interest in the "purple schools"?

Same question could be asked of Louisiana Christian.  Another Baptist school..... close proximity to ETBU. Seems like there would be some appeal.

--------------
TBH..... if the ASC is smart.... they are going hard for LETU and Centenary so they can make an East pod of ETBU, LETU, and Centenary all being within an hour of each other.  A Great travel pod.  Might even be appealing to luring Louisiana Christan back.  4 schools all in a close pocket together.

Same with McMurry, HPU, HSU and Wayland Baptist....another pod of 4.

Then you have UMHB and Shreiner in the middle. 

[Ron Boerger]

Louisiana Christian used to be known as Louisiana College and competed as a member of the ASC until 2021 when they transitioned to NAIA.  Obviously they had their reasons - probably being able to sponsor fewer sports was one of them as they dropped XC, men's golf, women's tennis, and track. 

And if I'm another school the ASC is pitching, I'm asking for at least the same $4-4.5M the rumor mill (and Corey Hogue) says McMurry and Schreiner allegedly got.  Not sure the Baptist 4 or the donors who coughed up the original $8M have that much to contribute to the cause.

[Mavchamp]

Louisiana Christian used to be known as Louisiana College and competed as a member of the ASC until 2021 when they transitioned to NAIA.  Obviously they had their reasons - probably being able to sponsor fewer sports was one of them as they dropped XC, men's golf, women's tennis, and track. 

And if I'm another school the ASC is pitching, I'm asking for at least the same $4-4.5M the rumor mill (and Corey Hogue) says McMurry and Schreiner allegedly got.  Not sure the Baptist 4 or the donors who coughed up the original $8M have that much to contribute to the cause.

Yeah.... LC had a great rivalry Vs. ETBU when they were in the ASC.  It was a shame to see them go.  If they feel like they fit the NAIA better...I get that.  But it doesn't look like they have done a whole lot since the move.  Might be worth reaching out to them.  Especially if it can lure Centenary too.

And I 100% agree with you.... any further schools interested in joining the ASC COULD ASK for the same.... but the circumstances have changed.  The likelihood of anyone else getting that money are pretty slim I would think.

While 6 members is far from ideal....the fact is... the ASC has the AQ and at least the APPEARANCE stability for the next decade.

The SCAC has neither the AQ nor the appearance of stability with no one knowing what Hendrix, Lyon, and Centenary are going to do going forward.

[Ron Boerger]

I think you sell Dwayne Hanberry and the SCAC way short, Mavchamp.  Football may not go forward as planned but as he said in today's D3football.com podcast, "[t]he SCAC has never really made decisions based on football and football alone." 

Another very interesting thing that he mentioned was that in between ASC commissioners there had been a scheduling agreement reached between the two conferences, which the ASC turned away from by the time Flores came onboard.  He also went out of his way not to blame Commissioner Flores for that decision. 

The podcast is especially well worth listening to this time around; not only is there the very open discussion with Hanberry and a review of last week's ASC blockbuster, but a good interview with new Schreiner HC Keith Allen among other topics.  You'll find it at https://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2025/03/30/atn-podcast-378-the-texas-two-swap/ or your podcast host of choice. 

[crufootball]

Another very interesting thing that he mentioned was that in between ASC commissioners there had been a scheduling agreement reached between the two conferences, which the ASC turned away from by the time Flores came onboard.  He also went out of his way not to blame Commissioner Flores for that decision.   

This is when I wish there was more media coverage of these situations to get more details. You are right that he did not blame Flores, he said that between Amy Carlton and Flores discussions happened but then by the time Flores took over the parameters of the relationship (between the SCAC and the ASC) had changed 180 and that that SCAC was no longer interested in the agreement.

Now what happened from Jan 2023 and July 2023, well the SCAC welcomed 2 more members from the ASC and UT Dallas announced they were going D2...and perhaps they were leaning on TLU to come back to the family earlier then initially reported which they did announce in November 2023.

All is fair in love and war but perhaps what changed was the SCAC got confident that if we don't go forward with this agreement the ASC is gone.

Maybe I am crazy but I wouldn't hold it against the SCAC if this is what happened since it seemed to almost work.

Also yes as a Texas D3 fan this was a great podcast and the new coach from Schreiner sounds like a fun guy to have around.

[Ralph Turner]

Yes. A good podcast.