FB: Southern Athletic Association

[TexPat]

While doing some random internet searches on the history of the Sun Bowl, I found this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943_Southwestern_Pirates_football_team

On October 2, 1943, Southwestern 14, University of Texas Longhorns 7.

1. One should always be doing internet searches on the history of the Sun Bowl

2. I've been very happy to see a mild resurgence in D3 bowl games in recent seasons. It would be nice to have one in our neck of the woods if a couple of the 5 conferences could think creatively. It's a shame that the D3 and D1 football calendars are not more aligned -- excited to see how the D2 and D3 basketball national championships fare at the D1 Final Four site this weekend...

[Ralph Turner]

Southwestern had a Navy V12 Officer Training Program, including some very good athletes, e.g. the US Military Academy's National Championships in 1944 and 1945.

[MCScots2013]

Proud alum post.  Yesterday was the 10th annual Tartan Tuesday, Maryville's day of giving, and records were smashed.  902 donors and over $1.5M raised.  I am very impressed by our community.  Tartan Tuesday '26

Now I'm looking forward to hearing more about fundraising efforts for the $80M Alexander Institute, especially after one of Knoxville's greatest philanthropists (and former member of the College's Board of Directors), Natalie Haslam, passed earlier this year.  It was announced prior to her passing that a regional visitors center named after her is planned. Natalie Leach Haslam remembered by MC

No update on the Kramer Memorial Fund after Roy Kramer passed late last year.  MC announced the Fund, but has been quiet since.  MC needs updated facilities to be competitive in the SAA.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity has posted their 2026 recruting class on Xitter (and on IG/FB, but easier to track on Xitter).  A class of 38, almost exclusively from Texas, and I don't see any transfers but it's possible there are some but just the HS is listed.  38 is actually a bit on the large size for an incoming Tiger class.

DBs: 6 (4 S, 1 DB, 1 CB)
K/P: 1
QB: 2
WR: 4 (see below)
OL: 9
LB: 4 (3 LB, 1 R)
TE: 3 (2 TE, 1 H)
RB: 3
DT: 6

The one name that jumped out to me as on old-timer is Canaan Factor.  Yes, fellow old-timers, that is the son of the Canaan Factor who still holds some receiving records at Trinity, including most receiving yards in a game and longest reception from scrimmage, from his time around the turn of the century.  At 6'2" with speed from track and hops from playing basketball at Fort Worth Country Day, he should make an excellent addition to the receiver corps.

[Ron Boerger]

You'll have to pay to watch SAA webcasts next year as the conference announced they fell for the Flo$port$ pitch.    https://x.com/SAA_Sports/status/2054230586315653582

[The Third Division]

This leaves the USA south as the only region three conference without flow sports

[Hawks88]

This leaves the USA south as the only region three conference without flow sports

Coming soon, I think. I assume the CCS would follow right along.

[Ron Boerger]

It's not up on their website, but Trinity's schedule has been obtained and posted by our friends at D3Football.com.  Notably, unusually, and welcome, none of the first three home games kick off earlier than 7pm (TLU; PLU and McMurry, 8pm).  The first afternoon home game comes October 2nd against Berry.  All remaining games, home and away, kick off between 1 and 3pm.

[Ron Boerger]

Robert Rochelle, aka "d3vbwest", posted on his site that, per Trinity SID Justin Parker, that Trinity will opt out of the Flo cash grab with the Tiger Network remaining open to all, and that a formal announcement of that decision is forthcoming. 

[The Third Division]

Robert Rochelle, aka "d3vbwest", posted on his site that, per Trinity SID Justin Parker, that Trinity will opt out of the Flo cash grab with the Tiger Network remaining open to all, and that a formal announcement of that decision is forthcoming. 

now i have an actual SAA Flo video to make now!

[Ron Boerger]

Forbes last week published a "Financial GPA" for nearly 1000 private colleges in the US.  I could not open this in Chrome but could in DuckDuckGo (might be me).  The maximum GPA is 4.5 and letter grades were assigned.  I'll list the components used in calculating the average below, and you can read this non-paywalled edit: a now paywalled article describes the overall methodology in detail.  SAA schools are almost all in more than decent shape, and the conference overall is doing better than most.  Organized in order of GPA, the grades are:

• Millsaps - 4.5/A+
• Sewanee - 4.5/A+
• Trinity - 4.5/A+
• Berry - 4.49/A+
• Southwestern - 4.49/A+
• Centre - 4.38/A+
• Rhodes - 4.06/A
• Maryville - 2.93/B-
• Oglethorpe - 1.6/D
• Overall:  3.94/A-

Components used in the calculation:

• Endowment Assets Per FTE (15%)
• Three Year Average UNAEP to Expenses (15%) [UNAEP=Unrestricted Net Assets Exclusive of Plant (Property, and Equipment)]
• Primary Reserve Ratio (10%)
• Viability Ratio (10%)
• Core Operating Margin (10%)
• 2-Year Enrollment Growth (10%)
• Tuition As A Percentage of Core Revenues (7.5%)
• Return On Assets (7.5%)
• Net Tuition Revenue Per Student (7.5%)
• Instruction Expenses Per FTE (7.5%)

I do admit to being surprised to see Millsaps up there with the other A+ schools; good for the Majors!  Unfortunately, the full article, which may allow you to dive in for further details, is behind a paywall and I'm not motivated enough to pay $12.99+tax to find out.  Despite Oglethorpe's low grade (endowment ~$50M, losing money annually), there are literally hundreds of colleges that graded lower.