Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 19, 2025, 02:21:56 PM

Quote from: TLU05SA on March 19, 2025, 09:40:55 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 19, 2025, 07:24:13 AMOne thing I noticed about yesterday's announcement was that the ASC used the term "faith-based"*, which is certainly understandable given the conference's go-forward membership. 

That is spin. This is about money, not faith.

It's about money, especially for the returnees, but for the schools at the heart of the conference, make no mistake that faith is a big part of their game plan.  The conference doesn't make that change if it isn't. 

I respectfully disagree. This is about money, even for the heart of the conference. UMHB and HSU (and probably ETBU) have determined it is cheaper to pay Schreiner and McMurry than the costs and expenses to operate an athletic scholarship program in DII, DI or NAIA.

It will be interesting to see how this continues to play out.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 19, 2025, 07:24:13 AMOne thing I noticed about yesterday's announcement was that the ASC used the term "faith-based"*, which is certainly understandable given the conference's go-forward membership. 

That is spin. This is about money, not faith.

Quote from: crufootball on March 18, 2025, 10:44:39 AM

Quote from: TLU05SA on March 18, 2025, 09:57:54 AM

Quote from: Mavchamp on March 18, 2025, 09:33:38 AMJust make it work.

No concern about how this came together? Is this another contemporary example of the ends justifying the means? So long as it "works", it is ok?

I want DIII athletics to thrive in Texas and I have not liked how things have been trending in recent years.  That said, paying schools to join your conference....Is that what we want DIII to be?

I am curious what did you expect the remaining members of the ASC to do? From everything I have gathered none of the options for them would have been free so if money on the front end saves them money in the long run that actually makes sense to me.

How about recognizing its ambitions seem beyond the DIII ethos of the student athlete, the student athlete experience and non-scholarship athletics and move to a division that is more in line with their ambitions.

Is what the ASC (for lack of clarity as to where the payments are coming from) is doing common in DIII? This is why I said, does the ends justify the means? 

While I appreciate that the members of the ASC want to stay in DIII, I question what they are doing.  Is this DIII behavior or should certain members recognize that their programs are more suitable for another division? If you are willing to pay other schools to come to your conference to be conference filler, is this adhering to the ethos of the student athlete, the student athlete experience and non-scholarship athletics?

I think the ASC is stepping all over that line and, likely, beyond it.

Quote from: Mavchamp on March 18, 2025, 09:33:38 AMJust make it work.

No concern about how this came together? Is this another contemporary example of the ends justifying the means? So long as it "works", it is ok?

I want DIII athletics to thrive in Texas and I have not liked how things have been trending in recent years.  That said, paying schools to join your conference....Is that what we want DIII to be?

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 18, 2025, 09:46:57 AMReports (unconfirmed by either the ASC or the schools, but mentioned by DCTF and a well-known blogger in his space, d3vbwest, as well as independently to me by people with contacts whom I trust) are that the two schools were offered in excess of a million dollars each to join the ASC.  The source of the funds is unknown.

Well, I think the source of the funds can be reliably implied. I have no doubt that the bulk of the funds (if not all) are coming from UMHB and HSU (or backers of those programs).

I cannot recall another incident where a school moved DIII conferences because the conference (or its schools) was paying them to move conferences. Just seems gross and against the ethos of DIII to me. I fully expect that in DI but not DIII.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 18, 2025, 08:48:26 AMMcMurry and

Quote from: TLU05SA on March 18, 2025, 08:45:59 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 18, 2025, 08:34:00 AMSouthwestern probably represents Hanberry's best chance to recover from this unfortunate situation, and if he can't I don't see Hendrix sticking around to find out what happens next - the SAA would happily take them back, and of course the ASC would love to have them too.

What is the unfortunate situation?

McMurry and Schreiner were bought out and will rejoin the ASC in 2026 - announcement expected later today.  See the ASC board for a lot of discussion.

Bought out? Are you saying the ASC (more likely its members) is paying Schreiner and McMurry to go back to the ASC?

So...UMHB and HSU are paying other schools to be their conference schedule fodder? Hmmmm. And they wonder why the exodus from ASC occurred in the first place? 

Quote from: Ron Boerger on March 18, 2025, 08:34:00 AMSouthwestern probably represents Hanberry's best chance to recover from this unfortunate situation, and if he can't I don't see Hendrix sticking around to find out what happens next - the SAA would happily take them back, and of course the ASC would love to have them too.

What is the unfortunate situation?

Unfortunately, the article is behind a paywall and I am not going to subscribe just for this article.
The rest of this post is complete speculation on my part.

I have always thought this ends with ETBU and HPU in the SCAC and HSU and UMHB in another division. Yes, doctrinal issues have played a part but only minimally. I really think this has more to do with UMHB and their athletic department looking more like an FCS athletic department than a DIII athletic department. Possibly the same with HSU but to a lesser extent.

So why has this not happened? The fact that the schools have portrayed themselves as the Baptist Four. Not so much the Baptist part but more "we are a package and, if you want any of us, you have to take us all" approach. Obviously, the SCAC is not biting on that.

Is this a flight from UMHB? You can describe it that way, fair or not. However, I think there is a little more going on as well because you don't see the same reaction to Trinity with their athletic department, who is certainly on (possibly/probably above) the level of UMHB and HSU across all sports. Doctrinal? Again maybe. Was it the fact that UMHB had to vacate a football championship for improper benefits? That might play a part and I could see where some might view that infraction as the tip of the iceberg of what they are really competing with financially. It seems to be a both/and type of deal. The FCS like athletic program plus the doctrinal/financial ability components that make many schools and conferences leery.

Anyways, my prediction, once UMHB moves on to DII or FCS, the log jam will be loosened, HPU and ETBU will be in the SCAC and HSU will either be in the SCAC or DII.

Sure, the travel didn't help but that was not the problem for TLU on Saturday. Linfield was better. As a few of you have said, hopefully TLU learns from this experience and this season is a steppingstone to a better football program.

Really tough game on Saturday and not the way you want the season to end. Overall, a great season for the Bulldogs but their showing on Saturday certainly leaves a bad aftertaste. Linfield was undoubtedly the better team and was ready for this game. TLU was not. Congrats to Linfield and good luck with UMHB next week.

I am glad to see TLU's football program trending in the right direction and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for 2025.

Quote from: wildcat11 on November 19, 2024, 05:19:12 PMI haven't seen TLU play so not much I can say in terms of match up.  What I'll say about this Linfield team is that I wouldn't want to see them in the playoffs.  Earlier in the season, the 'Cats were still trying to figure out the QB rotation and were not healthy at DT (missing Alex Frazier hurt Linfield mightily vs Oshkosh). 

Since then, the 'Cats offense settled into a rhythm with Eaton/McNabb and have all of their key members on the field.  Linfield is really good in all 3 phases.

I can give a little insight into TLU. The most obvious fact is that this is only the second time TLU has made the D3 playoffs. I can think of another year or two where they were worthy of consideration but, for the most part, TLU has been a program that has spent its time in the middle of the pecking order in the ASC. The playoffs will be something entirely new for this program and we will see how the team handles the pressure of a road game against a program that regularly finds itself in the playoffs. Linfield has an advantage with its experience in the playoffs.

This year's team is significantly better than any team TLU has had since, at least, 2014. TLU's defense is good. TLU plays well up front against the run (122 rushing yard per game) but the secondary occasionally gets burned by big plays (214 passing yards). Overall, they manage to keep the other team's offense under control.  The most points scored against them this season is 34 by Austin College, 20 of which was scored in the 4th quarter when the game was decided. The defense held their opponents to an average 17 points a game.

TLU's offense runs hot and cold. They averaged over 400 yards per game for the season (209 rushing; 195 passing). Their running game has been very good, lead by multiple running backs and quarterback who is a good runner on planed QB runs and scrambling when the pocket breaks down and when rolling out of the pocket. Their passing game is inconsistent. Most passing plays are short and/or quick passes. Long passing plays often are produced by the quarterback moving out of the pocket with the option to pass or run.  On average, 34 points per game.

TLU's special teams are very good. Their punter is excellent. He averages 44 yards per punt. So is their kicker.  The kicker does not have a big leg for kickoffs but is an accurate on field goals.  For PATs, he is 38 for 38 and 10 of 13 on field goals.  Last week, the kicker made a 37-yard field goal with ease with a little over 5 minutes in the game to keep TLU in the game. They had a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown early in the season but, otherwise, their kick and punt returners have been conservative. They had one turnover on a kick-off in their lone loss to McMurry. That, as far as I can recall, was the only turnover their special teams had.

How TLU will match up against Linfield? I have no idea. Really, I do not have any expectations about how this game will play out but I am hopeful that TLU will play well and make it a tough game.

Certainly glad to see TLU make the playoffs. Saturday's game was nerve wracking to say the least. TLU's defense was fantastic on Saturday. The offense.... Well, by far their worst performance of the season on that side of the ball but they did just enough to come away with a win. This was not how I saw the game playing out. Even while watching the first half, I thought TLU's offense would find their rhythm and put the game away.

TLU's special teams have been fantastic all season. Their punter and kicker are very good. The kicker made a crucial 37-yard field goal with just over 5 minutes remaining to put TLU on the board. Their punter did a great job making sure SW needed to score on long drives.

I was surprised that TLU will not be playing next weekend, getting a week off before facing Linfield. I know that Linfield is a regular in the playoffs but, beyond that, I don't know much more about them. No overlap between their schedule and TLU's. Linfield did lose to Wisconsin-Oshkosh early in the season and TLU played Oshkosh last year. However, that was a very different TLU team. Curious what people's thoughts are about Linfield.

Quote from: HSUCowboy2015 on November 12, 2024, 09:08:57 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on November 11, 2024, 07:38:39 PMBig game in Abilene this weekend.

McMurry is going for a Co-Championship and a 7-3 record, the best since 2011.
Centenary is going a 5-5 record in year #1.

Best way to achieve success is running away from the conference you consistently got your butt whipped in.

And the teams remaining in the ASC wonder why they are in this predicament...

I am curious. Who would fill the head coaching position and build and maintain the program to expectations expressed on this board?

Quote from: Ralph Turner on November 11, 2024, 07:38:39 PMBig game in Abilene this weekend.

McMurry is going for a Co-Championship and a 7-3 record, the best since 2011.
Centenary is going a 5-5 record in year #1.

I said this in a post above but I just want to emphasize it. Centenary is building a really good program. The record this year is helped by playing Austin College and Lyons twice but I have been impressed by the progress they have made this year. Their home field experience appeared energetic and lively and appear to be marketing the program very well. I could see that program exceeding expectations very quickly.