Go WEST young man (and NORTH)

[Ron Boerger]

More conference realignment in Region X

McMurry and Schreiner expected to leave the SCAC for the ASC

Announcement is supposed to be tomorrow morning.

That means Trinity, Southwestern, McMurry, and Schreiner are leaving the SCAC, but LeTourneau and Hendrix are joining the SCAC.  So, when the dust settles, the SCAC will have 10 teams in men's soccer.

If Dwayne Hanberry doesn't pull a rabbit out of his hat and find someone else to play American football, Hendrix will head back to the SAA, and unfortunately this train of events - where a conference is actually paying schools to join them, something unheard of in Division III - could result in some of the other recent SCAC schools that left the ASC rejoining their former conference. 

I can't tell you how despicable and non-D3 I find a conference bribing schools to join them.  Because that's exactly what it is if the allegations of million dollar payments by Hogue are true, and I've heard it from multiple sources. 

[Kuiper]

More conference realignment in Region X

McMurry and Schreiner expected to leave the SCAC for the ASC

Announcement is supposed to be tomorrow morning.

That means Trinity, Southwestern, McMurry, and Schreiner are leaving the SCAC, but LeTourneau and Hendrix are joining the SCAC.  So, when the dust settles, the SCAC will have 10 teams in men's soccer.

If Dwayne Hanberry doesn't pull a rabbit out of his hat and find someone else to play American football, Hendrix will head back to the SAA, and unfortunately this train of events - where a conference is actually paying schools to join them, something unheard of in Division III - could result in some of the other recent SCAC schools that left the ASC rejoining their former conference. 

I can't tell you how despicable and non-D3 I find a conference bribing schools to join them.  Because that's exactly what it is if the allegations of million dollar payments by Hogue are true, and I've heard it from multiple sources. 

I wondered about what McMurry and Schreiner are getting.  It's crazy if the rumored numbers are true ($1 million apiece?), but maybe cheaper than Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons moving up to DII.  I expect it will be donor-funded, much like the NIL collectives have been in D1.  Forget about taxing endowments.  We should deny deductions for these kinds of donations.  No reason the government should subsidize conference realignment.

As for Hendrix, if they were only coming for football, then I suppose they could return to the SAA.  Perhaps LeTourneau would return to the ASC too, but with the precedent set, they would surely demand cash payment to do so.  That would leave the SCAC with 8 schools in soccer and not much room for error.

[Ron Boerger]

I don't think HX was only coming for (American) football, but they were certainly coming to a conference where they could compete for an automatic bid in the sport.  They were willing to wait until 2026 - now that's off the table, absent a SCAC hail mary. 

[Kuiper]

I don't think HX was only coming for (American) football, but they were certainly coming to a conference where they could compete for an automatic bid in the sport.  They were willing to wait until 2026 - now that's off the table, absent a SCAC hail mary. 

If I were one of the remaining ASC schools that did not help pay the fee and saw what McMurry and Schreiner were getting, I might be willing to at least flirt with the SCAC to see what the ASC would pay me to stay.  The ASC has put itself in a position to get held up in the future (and regularly) if the rumors are true.

[Ron Boerger]

Pretty sure at least a couple of them tried and were rebuffed (one reason the ASC went to this extent), though now with the situation as it is they might receive a different answer from the SCAC.  But agree that it's a horrid precedent (if true). 

[Ron Boerger]

ASC announcement dropped; ten year agreement for all six schools to remain.  At least they got good value for their money.   https://ascsports.org/news/2025/3/18/general-american-southwest-conference-celebrates-10-year-agreement-and-membership-expansion.aspx

[Kuiper]

Here is a link to the D3Sports story with quotes from the two schools moving to the ASC

The 10-year commitment, with details that were not specified, will solidify a churning conference membership shuffle that has seen schools move back and forth between the ASC and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, assuming all six schools remain open. It was widely reported that a significant financial incentive was provided to bring Schreiner and McMurry back into the field.
 
"We are excited to continue fostering a dynamic and supportive environment for our student-athletes," said Cory Hines, president of Howard Payne University and chair of the ASC Council of Presidents. "This partnership will ensure the ASC remains a competitive and thriving conference, with a focus on academic achievement, character development, sportsmanship, and athletic excellence. We look forward to building upon the foundation of our united ASC institutions for years to come."
 
"In a world in which college athletics seems mired in uncertainty, Schreiner University is honored to join our colleagues in constituting a renewed American Southwest Conference that will provide stability and certainty - as well as a commitment to excellence - for our student-athletes and coaches for years to come," said Charlie McCormick, president, Schreiner University.
 
"I'm proud of the faithful leadership of our member institution presidents for their commitment to focus on the long-term future of the Conference," said David Flores, Commissioner of the ASC. "The addition of these two respected institutions, located squarely in the membership footprint, will ensure continuity and enhanced success of the American Southwest Conference."
 
"After careful consideration, McMurry University has determined that rejoining the American Southwest Conference best serves our scholar-athletes and the future of our athletics program," said newly appointed McMurry University President Lynne Murray.