FB: Southern Athletic Association

[BSCpanthers]

Southwestern will be joining us in the SAA for football soon enough, maybe they can influence some of the other members. 

BSC's difficulty in Birmingham is gaining attention.  We are fourth in this city when it comes to football, UAB-FBS, Samford-FCS, Miles College-DII, then us, all in the BHM metro area, and of course Alabama only 45 minutes down the road.  BSC isn't going to be pulling fans in off the street, it's pretty much, students, parents and friends attending games.  We are getting the smallest of media play right now because of the playoffs, and a local sports radio guy is a BSC alum and played there, so that is getting the name out there a little more. 

Our stadium was built in 2008, It's nice enough, but I don't believe there have been any updates since then, not to the lights, the scoreboard, I think the program has grown over the years, and I'd like to see some reinvestment.  Reward the team for their success over the last couple seasons and especially this one.  Next year we are getting that SAA trophy.

Respectfully, fourth in the city? I would say probably closer to 8th or 9th...

More likely for interest in the city, Tide, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, UAB, LSU, Samford, Miles, then B-SC, which makes it even harder.

(I sent 2 daughters to Auburn, WAR EAGLE!)

If you are comparing to all other football, BSC is way past 8th or 9th.  I was just putting it out there how much football is in and around the BHM area for those that don't realize.  It's easier to bring in local fans if you're the only program(Even DIII) in town.  I know there is a ton of college football in Texas, but for UMHB, in their town, they are the only team there. 

[jknezek]

Southwestern will be joining us in the SAA for football soon enough, maybe they can influence some of the other members. 

BSC's difficulty in Birmingham is gaining attention.  We are fourth in this city when it comes to football, UAB-FBS, Samford-FCS, Miles College-DII, then us, all in the BHM metro area, and of course Alabama only 45 minutes down the road.  BSC isn't going to be pulling fans in off the street, it's pretty much, students, parents and friends attending games.  We are getting the smallest of media play right now because of the playoffs, and a local sports radio guy is a BSC alum and played there, so that is getting the name out there a little more. 

Our stadium was built in 2008, It's nice enough, but I don't believe there have been any updates since then, not to the lights, the scoreboard, I think the program has grown over the years, and I'd like to see some reinvestment.  Reward the team for their success over the last couple seasons and especially this one.  Next year we are getting that SAA trophy.

Respectfully, fourth in the city? I would say probably closer to 8th or 9th...

More likely for interest in the city, Tide, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, UAB, LSU, Samford, Miles, then B-SC, which makes it even harder.

(I sent 2 daughters to Auburn, WAR EAGLE!)

If you are comparing to all other football, BSC is way past 8th or 9th.  I was just putting it out there how much football is in and around the BHM area for those that don't realize.  It's easier to bring in local fans if you're the only program(Even DIII) in town.  I know there is a ton of college football in Texas, but for UMHB, in their town, they are the only team there.

Yep. I work with more than a couple B-SC alums and they are off to Alabama or Auburn most weekends. When I used to go see B-SC games once or twice a year I'd invite them to come tailgate with us and they looked at me like I lost my head. It's an uphill battle to get attention even from people with connection to the school, but I think that's pretty common for D3 teams. W&L is overshadowed by VMI. Even when VMI stinks, they can pack that stadium while W&L draws nothing but parents and students.

That being said, I'd rather go see B-SC than Alabama. I have no interest in sitting with 100K drunken fools, fighting the traffic in and out, or paying the ticket prices, for Bryant-Denny. But there aren't many of me, and there's a whole lot of people that would turn up their nose at UAB, let alone B-SC...

[crufootball]

Southwestern will be joining us in the SAA for football soon enough, maybe they can influence some of the other members. 

BSC's difficulty in Birmingham is gaining attention.  We are fourth in this city when it comes to football, UAB-FBS, Samford-FCS, Miles College-DII, then us, all in the BHM metro area, and of course Alabama only 45 minutes down the road.  BSC isn't going to be pulling fans in off the street, it's pretty much, students, parents and friends attending games.  We are getting the smallest of media play right now because of the playoffs, and a local sports radio guy is a BSC alum and played there, so that is getting the name out there a little more. 

Our stadium was built in 2008, It's nice enough, but I don't believe there have been any updates since then, not to the lights, the scoreboard, I think the program has grown over the years, and I'd like to see some reinvestment.  Reward the team for their success over the last couple seasons and especially this one.  Next year we are getting that SAA trophy.

Respectfully, fourth in the city? I would say probably closer to 8th or 9th...

More likely for interest in the city, Tide, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, UAB, LSU, Samford, Miles, then B-SC, which makes it even harder.

(I sent 2 daughters to Auburn, WAR EAGLE!)

If you are comparing to all other football, BSC is way past 8th or 9th.  I was just putting it out there how much football is in and around the BHM area for those that don't realize.  It's easier to bring in local fans if you're the only program(Even DIII) in town.  I know there is a ton of college football in Texas, but for UMHB, in their town, they are the only team there.

UMHB is the only game in town but its a small town that is less than 30 minutes from Waco (the other Baylor haha) and an hour from Austin (UT). We have developed some good local fans and are relatively big by D3 standards but I can assure if certain games like UT/OU are playing, it doesn't matter if we are playing Hardin-Simmons that weekend or not, the crowd is affected.

[BSCpanthers]

Even with sponsorship dollars, you guys may have an advantage, even in a smaller town, because companies that are going to sponsor are going to you.  We are lucky Birmingham is a bigger city, but we still compete with the other 3 schools in the city for those dollars. 

But JK is right, Alabama and Auburn cast a large shadow in this state, as I'm sure it does in other states.  And even UAB suffers from that.  But our attendance isn't an issue, we have good crowds for who we are, and because of that I'd like to see some updates to the stadium. 

This kinda turned into a poor us, but that's not what I meant to do, I'm happy with the program and support.  I think BSC could benefit with some upgrades and make the experience better for the players and fans.

[dmhinv]

This post is just scattershooting in all directions...

Most of the SAA schools have academics at the forefront, with that comes a fight for dollars on the athletic side.   If TU or UMHB win the D3 title, will it it cause a 10-20% bump in enrollment applications like a D1 final four does?  Probably not, but it will enhance the standing of those programs for recruits.

In terms of facilities, look at the the Ivy schools stadiums and weight rooms, look at D3 Nescac stadiums (both great academic conferences) neither have much to offer over the majority of the SAA schools.  One of my kids did the east coast tour and was underwhelmed by both conferences. 

TU probably took the right approach in fundraising for the stadium improvements- have a master plan and add incrementally.  Scoreboard, turf, then seating improvements.  Urban had a message and did a nice job selling that message internally to his chain of command and then externally to alums and the SA business community.

UMHB is an outlier for D3.  The program welcomes 80-100 incoming freshman for football, it whittles that down quickly, but it provides a crazy amount of depth.  UMHB has great facilities and fan base, regardless of location, it is a crazy fun game day experience.

D3 football is not going to change, playoff travel for D3 is more of headache for the NCAA than anything.  Embrace the school, the program and hope your kids are getting a great education on and off the field that will promote long term success.

As for the Saturday game, I hope I'm wrong, but I think UMHB takes it by 3 td's.  UMHB's DL and secondary are very, very good.  TU's short game pass defense is porous and poorly schemed.   I do think TU can move the ball on the ground, but Urban's DNA is to throw.  I hope it goes to the wire.

[D O.C.]

I miss Wesley in the mix.
Who misses Wesley?

[Hawks88]

Yep, miss those guys. 

[BSCpanthers]

I wonder who will be the next program or school we will lose due to missed budgets and lack of fund raising?.?.?

[umhb2001]

UMHB game notes are up.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/cruathletics.com/documents/2021/11/18/UMHB_FB_GAME_NOTES_NOV_20.pdf

[Ron Boerger]

I wonder who will be the next program or school we will lose due to missed budgets and lack of fund raising?.?.?

Two D3 schools announced they were adding football this month.

Centenary LA starting in 2024
Some school back northeast starting next year supposedly

[BSCpanthers]

I wonder who will be the next program or school we will lose due to missed budgets and lack of fund raising?.?.?

Two D3 schools announced they were adding football this month.

Centenary LA starting in 2024
Some school back northeast starting next year supposedly

Any idea where Centenary plans on parking their football team???  The ASC seems full, the SAA is adding Southwestern, which will make us full.  Leaves both the ASC and SAA with 2 OOC games.  Or does the SCAC responsor football and pull teams out fo both the ASC and SAA???

[jknezek]

I wonder who will be the next program or school we will lose due to missed budgets and lack of fund raising?.?.?

Two D3 schools announced they were adding football this month.

Centenary LA starting in 2024
Some school back northeast starting next year supposedly

Any idea where Centenary plans on parking their football team???  The ASC seems full, the SAA is adding Southwestern, which will make us full.  Leaves both the ASC and SAA with 2 OOC games.  Or does the SCAC responsor football and pull teams out fo both the ASC and SAA???

Centenary will probably replace Southwestern. The ASC schools will mostly be happy to only have to schedule 1 OOC game considering the dearth of D3 options around.

[Ron Boerger]

Agree that the ASC is the most likely location for Centenary football.  It's also entirely possible Centenary returns to the ASC altogether, it would eliminate a lot of costly trips to Colorado Springs (replacing them with bus rides to Alpine, ugh). 

Don't know if the SCAC has any interest in restarting football.  First, they'd have to talk the four core SCAC football members into coming back, and Austin just signed a four-year commitment to play in the ASC.  Then, they'd have to talk (currently) two other schools into starting football in order to get a Pool A bid.  They tried this once before, it seems unlikely that they'd have any more success now than they did before dropping football.   Maybe St. Thomas, who wasn't in the conference at that point, might be interested but it seems like a long putt Hail Mary. 

[justafan12]

Just a what if and thinking here but what if the SCAC gets TU, TLU and SW to come back to the SCAC and start football with them.  Add Centenary and that gives you 4.  Not sure if the legal drawbacks but lets say that AC is able to get out of their 4 year commitment to the ASC and you have 5 teams.  Just need one more.  Maybe St. Thomas starts up football but would any ASC teams leave to get a better chance at making the playoffs in football?  I know football is not the only consideration here but this is a football board.  Would ETBU leaved the ASC?  I don't see them competing in football with the likes of UMHB or HSU anytime soon. Maybe someone jumps from the SAA for a different life.

Just some random thoughts.

[Ron Boerger]

Just a what if and thinking here but what if the SCAC gets TU, TLU and SW to come back to the SCAC and start football with them.  Add Centenary and that gives you 4.  Not sure if the legal drawbacks but lets say that AC is able to get out of their 4 year commitment to the ASC and you have 5 teams.  Just need one more.  Maybe St. Thomas starts up football but would any ASC teams leave to get a better chance at making the playoffs in football?  I know football is not the only consideration here but this is a football board.  Would ETBU leaved the ASC?  I don't see them competing in football with the likes of UMHB or HSU anytime soon. Maybe someone jumps from the SAA for a different life.

Just some random thoughts.

Right now you need seven teams, not six, for a bid.  There was a proposal at one point recently to lower the number to six but either it hasn't been voted on yet or got dropped. 

Chance of an SAA school wanting to fly half the time to join the SCAC in football: zero.  That's a big reason they left in the first place, in addition Hendrix, the school closest to consider it was one of the most vocal schools about leaving due to differences in academic standards.   One flight a year is bad enough, 3-4 would be a big financial hit. 
Chance of an ASC school wanting to play in the SCAC:  doesn't seem large either, and the SCAC would likely say the same thing about some of the ASC schools if they did.

Maybe the SCAC will prove me wrong and the Centenary (LA) move is just the first domino in a series, but I don't see it.  But when the SAA split off and left five teams in the SCAC I didn't think the conference was long for this world, either.