FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[The Third Division]

"ASC schools want to make cross country trips to Cali."

Seems kinda sus

[TLU02SA]

This is what the SCAC office tweeted yesterday:

We plan to have 6 football teams by no later than 2026 with an NCAA AQ. SCAC football returns in 2024 with Austin, Centenary, Lyon (affiliate) & McMurry. We are hopeful that Schreiner will be up & running by 2025 and Texas Lutheran will transition from the ASC no later than 2026.

Interesting wording there with, "We are hopeful".  That does not sound certain, and the sentence could be viewed as ambiguous. Does the "hopeful" statement refer to just Schreiner being up and running or does hopeful also refer to TLU transitioning? I read it as the conference being merely hopeful that both will happen.  That statement does not give me confidence that the SCAC will ever reach the AQ minimum and I still think there is a lot more movement to come.

[Ron Boerger]

Yes, a well-placed comma could have helped here:

"We plan to have 6 football teams by no later than 2026 with an NCAA AQ. SCAC football returns in 2024 with Austin, Centenary, Lyon (affiliate) & McMurry. We are hopeful that Schreiner will be up & running by 2025, and Texas Lutheran will transition from the ASC no later than 2026."

makes a stronger statement than the tweet as written.

[Ron Boerger]

As a part of the recent SAA press release about SW and TU, I found the following in the "about Southwestern" paragraph:

Southwestern is investing more than $120 million over the next three years in capital projects while embarking on plans to create a liberal arts-inspired city on more than 500 acres contiguous to campus.

As has been mentioned before, even after the sale a couple years ago of a number of outlying parcels, the school still owns a good deal of land to the east and northeast of the current campus, which sits on 100 of the some 701 acres the school now says it owns*. 

"Creating a liberal arts-inspired city" on 500 acres would probably take the entire current endowment, if not more, and I've seen nothing else to date about this proposal, so it will be interesting to keep an eye out to see what comes of this.  It might be a private-private partnership only tangentially-related to the school (housing, commercial, etc). 

* - parts of this page haven't been updated for years but it seems pretty likely the school still owns at least 600 acres 

[Pat Coleman]

I would bet they could probably find investment partners in a project like that and not have to take on the entire burden themselves?

[Ron Boerger]

I would bet they could probably find investment partners in a project like that and not have to take on the entire burden themselves?

That was what I clumsily inferred (or was trying to infer) when I said "private-private partnership". 

Still haven't found any deets on this rather major initiative.  Here's a eleven-day old story on the $120 mill in new facility/upgrades, which includes the new football stadium.  Also interesting is source of funds:  $80M from long-term bonds, $20M from existing maintenance funds, only $20M from fundraising.   Another story from earlier this month talks about a new capital campaign to raise $150M ("Thrive: the Campaign for Southwestern University". According to the kickoff event schedule there are "seven major Campus Master Plan building initiatives" which will "transform Southwestern's campus for generations to come" and plan to "share exciting news about our future as a leader in higher education."   So maybe that's where they'll talk about the 500 acres.

[Etchglow]

I would bet they could probably find investment partners in a project like that and not have to take on the entire burden themselves?

That was what I clumsily inferred (or was trying to infer) when I said "private-private partnership". 

Still haven't found any deets on this rather major initiative.  Here's a eleven-day old story on the $120 mill in new facility/upgrades, which includes the new football stadium.  Also interesting is source of funds:  $80M from long-term bonds, $20M from existing maintenance funds, only $20M from fundraising.   Another story from earlier this month talks about a new capital campaign to raise $150M ("Thrive: the Campaign for Southwestern University". According to the kickoff event schedule there are "seven major Campus Master Plan building initiatives" which will "transform Southwestern's campus for generations to come" and plan to "share exciting news about our future as a leader in higher education."   So maybe that's where they'll talk about the 500 acres.

That seems mighty ambitious.  Would be kind of cool, although traffic already sucks on 29 lol.

[TLU02SA]

As a part of the recent SAA press release about SW and TU, I found the following in the "about Southwestern" paragraph:

Southwestern is investing more than $120 million over the next three years in capital projects while embarking on plans to create a liberal arts-inspired city on more than 500 acres contiguous to campus.

As has been mentioned before, even after the sale a couple years ago of a number of outlying parcels, the school still owns a good deal of land to the east and northeast of the current campus, which sits on 100 of the some 701 acres the school now says it owns*. 

"Creating a liberal arts-inspired city" on 500 acres would probably take the entire current endowment, if not more, and I've seen nothing else to date about this proposal, so it will be interesting to keep an eye out to see what comes of this.  It might be a private-private partnership only tangentially-related to the school (housing, commercial, etc). 

* - parts of this page haven't been updated for years but it seems pretty likely the school still owns at least 600 acres 

Really interesting.  I wouldn't be surprised to see more small liberal arts universities trying partnerships like this.  It is abundantly clear that

Well, I was distracted by work, thought I had deleted this post but, obviously, I didn't and mistakenly posted it midsentence! Let me complete my thought:

It is clear that a number of small liberal arts and private colleges and universities are struggling to stay open.  It seems another small college or university is announcing it is closing its doors almost every week now.  I am not surprised to see colleges like SW trying unique and novel ways to distinguish themselves.  I am not suggesting that SW is struggling but I think any small college or university would be smart to find other ways to differentiate themselves.  My only question with this, as has been noted by others, is that this plan by SW is not using SW's endowment and SW is not overleveraging itself to get this done.  I don't think that is the case and I am interested to learn more about what SW is doing.

[Ron Boerger]

Pat Coleman did an excellent interview with Collegiate Sports Connect about the future of Division 3 football in Texas ... focusing on the ASC and the SCAC as well as a potential UMHB move (all theoretical, no rumors about there being any actual motion).  UNfortunately you do have to sign up for an account and they're focused on school administrators so you basically have to make some stuff up to complete the process.  But it is worth your while to do so.

Pat says (on Twitter): 

Great conversation with @AnthonyGrassi23 of @CS_Connect1 about the state of #d3fb in Texas, with the ASC facing membership questions, the SCAC losing two football members before it even starts and more. Free registration required.

Collegiate Sports Connect says: 

"@d3sports Executive Editor Pat Coleman joins @AnthonyGrassi23  on: 

> Changes occurring in Texas for @NCAADIII
> @SCAC_Sports upstart football league
> Potential conference expansions

>> https://csconnect.live/?feed=1279"

The link above will take you to a signup form, after which you will have access to their site which has a link to the interview. 

[Ron Boerger]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

[TLU02SA]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

Interesting.  I always like to read the quotes from these press releases. They always stick them at the bottom of the article but I find them the most interesting.  The quotes from University of Ozarks are the most enlightening here and seem to be taking shots are particular schools in the ASC:

1. "One of the main attractions for us is that all the SCAC member institutions are private, independent colleges, which aligns with schools who have similar philosophies, including fellow Presbyterian institutions Austin College and Schreiner University."

2. "To remain among institutions that live by the standard of academics first is an NCAA Division III principle that we hold in high regard."

3. "The SCAC gives us a stable NCAA Division III conference whose member colleges fit us better in regards to enrollment size and facilities."

Concordia's quotes were much more diplomatic.

[jekelish]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

Interesting.  I always like to read the quotes from these press releases. They always stick them at the bottom of the article but I find them the most interesting.  The quotes from University of Ozarks are the most enlightening here:

1. "One of the main attractions for us is that all the SCAC member institutions are private, independent colleges, which aligns with schools who have similar philosophies, including fellow Presbyterian institutions Austin College and Schreiner University."

2. "To remain among institutions that live by the standard of academics first is an NCAA Division III principle that we hold in high regard."

3. "The SCAC gives us a stable NCAA Division III conference whose member colleges fit us better in regards to enrollment size and facilities."

Translation: "Peace out, Mary Hardin-Baylor."

[TLU02SA]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

Interesting.  I always like to read the quotes from these press releases. They always stick them at the bottom of the article but I find them the most interesting.  The quotes from University of Ozarks are the most enlightening here:

1. "One of the main attractions for us is that all the SCAC member institutions are private, independent colleges, which aligns with schools who have similar philosophies, including fellow Presbyterian institutions Austin College and Schreiner University."

2. "To remain among institutions that live by the standard of academics first is an NCAA Division III principle that we hold in high regard."

3. "The SCAC gives us a stable NCAA Division III conference whose member colleges fit us better in regards to enrollment size and facilities."

Translation: "Peace out, Mary Hardin-Baylor."

Right.

[Etchglow]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

Interesting.  I always like to read the quotes from these press releases. They always stick them at the bottom of the article but I find them the most interesting.  The quotes from University of Ozarks are the most enlightening here:

1. "One of the main attractions for us is that all the SCAC member institutions are private, independent colleges, which aligns with schools who have similar philosophies, including fellow Presbyterian institutions Austin College and Schreiner University."

2. "To remain among institutions that live by the standard of academics first is an NCAA Division III principle that we hold in high regard."

3. "The SCAC gives us a stable NCAA Division III conference whose member colleges fit us better in regards to enrollment size and facilities."

Translation: "Peace out, Mary Hardin-Baylor."

UMHB homer here, but yeah... That's the way I'm reading it lol.  Although, not sure who the shot at them all being "private, independent colleges" is at, unless it is UT-D?

[Ron Boerger]

Concordia, Ozarks to join SCAC in 24-25!

https://scacsports.com/news/2022-2023/scac_adds_concordia_and_ozarks

Interesting.  I always like to read the quotes from these press releases. They always stick them at the bottom of the article but I find them the most interesting.  The quotes from University of Ozarks are the most enlightening here:

1. "One of the main attractions for us is that all the SCAC member institutions are private, independent colleges, which aligns with schools who have similar philosophies, including fellow Presbyterian institutions Austin College and Schreiner University."

2. "To remain among institutions that live by the standard of academics first is an NCAA Division III principle that we hold in high regard."

3. "The SCAC gives us a stable NCAA Division III conference whose member colleges fit us better in regards to enrollment size and facilities."

Translation: "Peace out, Mary Hardin-Baylor."

UMHB homer here, but yeah... That's the way I'm reading it lol.  Although, not sure who the shot at them all being "private, independent colleges" is at, unless it is UT-D?

UT-D gets called out for that as well as being huge in comparison.  Ironically UT-D probably has the best academics in the ASC, better than most of the SCAC.