FB: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Ron,

Could Millsaps be a #1 seed in the South.  Even at a #2, could the NCAA match up UMHB and HSU in the first round? 

Yes, it happened in 2006 when the NCAA did not remember the change in the mileage standards.

[CUAfan]

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor, .465
2. Hardin-Simmons, .077
3. East Texas Baptist, .064
4. Sul Ross State, .030
5. Louisiana College, -.016
6. Howard Payne, -.041
7. Mississippi College, -.067
8. Texas Lutheran, -.256
9. McMurry, -.311

New ranking after this weekend's games. UMHB comes back to the pack a bit, ETBU leapfrogs HSU, and MC passes HPU.

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor, .385
2. East Texas Baptist, .109
3. Hardin-Simmons, .061
4. Sul Ross State, .030
5. Louisiana College, -.017
6. Mississippi College, -.047
7. Howard Payne, -.050
8. Texas Lutheran, -.180
9. McMurry, -.297

[Ron Boerger]

Ron,

Could Millsaps be a #1 seed in the South.  Even at a #2, could the NCAA match up UMHB and HSU in the first round? 

It's going to be interesting if both win out.  UMHB will only have eight D3 games, with a quality win against HSU.  Millsaps would have nine D3 games with a QW against Trinity (assuming both HSU and Trinity win the rest of their games).   Someone like W&J (p.u.) or Muhlenberg might get the #1 South seed since they have 10 D3 games.    Regardless of the seeds 10-0 UMHB and Millsaps would both host first-round games.

So, making more assumptions ... a 9-1 HSU with wins against UWLC and Linfield seems like a lock for a Pool C.  A 9-1 Trinity would be on the bubble but might get in if they can do what nobody else has done, stay respectable against the Majors.   If that's the case, you send HSU to Millsaps and Trinity to UMHB again.  I have no idea whether UMHB would get a higher seed than Millsaps, too many unknowns at this stage.   HSU would be seeded above Trinity in this scenario. 

And as has been pointed out, the NCAA doesn't seem to know how to use Mapquest, so HSU fans should hope that Trinity does make the playoffs which should eliminate any chance of an ASC first-round matchup. 

[Ralph Turner]

Only UMHB (and ETBU) are within range of Millsaps. 

HSU is not.  Someone might need to fly.

I have Huntingdon in the back of my mind as a Pool B which could be sent to Millsaps.

Wash U took a bad loss today.

If CWRU can pick up a couple of losses and Wesley/Salisbury figure themselves out and leave only one standing, proud and unbloodied, then Huntingdon at 10-0/9-0 might sneak in.  (Huntingdon must beat HSC, and HSC needs to win the ODAC.)

[Josh Bowerman]

Isn't the SLIAC a Pool A/Pool C conference, Ralph?

Or are they "provisional" this year?

[Ron Boerger]

UMHB-Millsaps and HSU-Trinity in the first round?  That would be unfair to the first two teams but wouldn't be the first time the AA did something so stupid.  

[Ralph Turner]

Isn't the SLIAC a Pool A/Pool C conference, Ralph?

Or are they "provisional" this year?

The SLIAC is in its first provisional year as a football conference. 

I think that the distinction is that the Northern Athletics Conference has been a full conference for 2 years and has gone thru the processes.  They offered football in year #3 of its existence and did not require affiliates to achieve the minimum of 7.

The SLIAC is offering a new sport and only had 6 full members offering football. I am not sure why they are Pool B for 2009 and 2010, but they are.

[Josh Bowerman]

It just strikes me as strange, as (I believe) all the members have been full members of DIII for a reasonably long time.  Given they have 8 conference members, I'd have thought they'd automatically qualify for an AQ spot in the playoffs.   

[Ralph Turner]

It just strikes me as strange, as (I believe) all the members have been full members of DIII for a reasonably long time.  Given they have 8 conference members, I'd have thought they'd automatically qualify for an AQ spot in the playoffs.   

Huntingdon and LaGrange are football affiliates only. 

[Josh Bowerman]

So.......?

You're going to have to walk me through it, Ralph.  Sorry for being ignorant on this...

[Ralph Turner]

So.......?

You're going to have to walk me through it, Ralph.  Sorry for being ignorant on this...

I don't know if I can walk you correctly.   

I remember that the Dixie IAC (USA South) got its Pool A bid in its first year in 2001.  The Empire 8 got a bid in its first year (in 2004) to have 7 members, both full and affiliate when the Freedom FC disbanded and scattered Western Connecticut to the NJAC, Springfield and Norwich to the E8, and WPI, Merchant Marine and Coast Guard to the Upstate CAA/Liberty Leagues.

Something may have changed.  The NWC took two years to earn a Pool A bid when Menlo affiliated in Fall 2006 and the Pres AC added Thomas More in a way that caused schedule cancellations in spring of 2005, so the Pres AC could start the two-year provisional status for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Surely, filling the RHIT vacancy was one of the reasons that AC got in the SCAC, in addition to the improvements in the administration talent in the advancement section.  

[Josh Bowerman]

Help, Pat!

[Ralph Turner]

Ron,

Could Millsaps be a #1 seed in the South.  Even at a #2, could the NCAA match up UMHB and HSU in the first round? 

So, making more assumptions ... a 9-1 HSU with wins against UWLC and Linfield seems like a lock for a Pool C. 

UWLC needs to get some wins in a hurry.  They are 0-4 against HSU, North Dakota, Azusa Pacific and UW-Whitewater.

Linfield might not win the NWC.  They squeaked by Menlo today 9-0, and still must play Whitworth and Willamette!

[Pat Coleman]

The SLIAC has six core members and two affiliates. If you add affiliates to reach seven then you have to wait for two years, like the Northwest Conference did.

[cover2]

Entertaining game in Belton today.  Felt the CRU dominated but shot themselves in the foot in the red zone with penalties and missed opportunities and really should have won by a couple of TD's.  Impressed by Feaster and his ability to avoid the pressure to keep plays alive but really thought most of HSU's gains were on a handful of plays--a couple of trick plays at that.  HSU had a really hard time stopping the run and UMHB needs to get healthy and fast...maybe then their QB will pitch it some on his option plays.  Should be a great second half of the season.