FB: American Southwest Conference

[Kuiper]

I wish someone would do a study of how many players end up in the portal and end their careers / return to their original team / actually find a home elsewhere and at what level.

I don't know about where they end up athletically, but studies suggest that athletic transfers graduate at a lower rate than those who remain at their home institutions

This freedom of movement has been widely hailed as a major victory for student-athletes from athletic, financial and ethical perspectives. But as a college professor, I would be remiss if I did not raise an important potential cost of this new era of free agency in college sports. What is the impact of the increase in transfers on graduation rates going to be?

Graduation success rates (or GSRs) have increased to record highs in recent year, including in the sports of football and men's basketball. The NCAA reports that . . . graduation rates for students transferring between four-year institutions is lower than that of students who remain at the same institution.

This makes sense. Few (if any) undergraduate athletes are entering the transfer portal for academic reasons. In addition to the decreased focus on academics in favor of athletics, the loss of credits during the transfer process, a poor fit between the student's academic ability and interests and the institutional offerings, the level and quality of academic advising and support, as well as differences and difficulty in assimilating to a new campus culture are all challenges faced by those who transfer. The addition of the potential pursuit of NIL dollars as a factor motivating the decision to transfer adds yet another layer of complexity.

[Etchglow]

I wish someone would do a study of how many players end up in the portal and end their careers / return to their original team / actually find a home elsewhere and at what level.

I don't know about where they end up athletically, but studies suggest that athletic transfers graduate at a lower rate than those who remain at their home institutions

This freedom of movement has been widely hailed as a major victory for student-athletes from athletic, financial and ethical perspectives. But as a college professor, I would be remiss if I did not raise an important potential cost of this new era of free agency in college sports. What is the impact of the increase in transfers on graduation rates going to be?

Graduation success rates (or GSRs) have increased to record highs in recent year, including in the sports of football and men's basketball. The NCAA reports that . . . graduation rates for students transferring between four-year institutions is lower than that of students who remain at the same institution.

This makes sense. Few (if any) undergraduate athletes are entering the transfer portal for academic reasons. In addition to the decreased focus on academics in favor of athletics, the loss of credits during the transfer process, a poor fit between the student's academic ability and interests and the institutional offerings, the level and quality of academic advising and support, as well as differences and difficulty in assimilating to a new campus culture are all challenges faced by those who transfer. The addition of the potential pursuit of NIL dollars as a factor motivating the decision to transfer adds yet another layer of complexity.

Unless something has changed, you can generally only transfer so many hours as well. It was also a lot of work transferring some of my classes from Kettering to UMHB. Like, I had to find the syllabus for the class from 2 years before just so they would accept some of my classes.

[crufootball]

Might as well do what D1 fans figured out a couple years ago. Don't even fret over a roster until it's set and the players show up in August.

Most D3 players at some point dreamed about playing D1 or getting a football scholarship, but odds of that happening were small prior to the portal. Hoards of G5 and FCS players moving up and/or out via the portal are leaving roster spots to fill. There's more opportunity now for the best players. 

I really agree with this on both points.

With the resources and history that UMHB has, we are positioned well to gain more then we lose in terms of talent. It will make it harder to know the team going into the season and we will lose high quality freshmen and sophomores after a good season to higher divisions but as pointed out there is a lot of talent that enters the transfer portal that needs someplace to land when summer comes.

And as much as I will hate to lose players I can't blame them if they take a chance on themselves to seek greener pastures. 

[Crubacker]

Damn, I guess the schedule won't come out until August

[Etchglow]

-Spring ball QB battle update-

Three guys battling for the job.

Jake Wright still technically #1 on the depth chart which is fair because he was our QB1 second half of the year and acquired some playoff experience. No issue with it being his job to lose - I think that is a fair approach from coach Lee.

The other two guys fighting for the job are Seth Mouser, former 3 star UTEP/Juco transfer and Reggie Moody Jr.

Mouser is 6'6" and mobile and was the highest rated JUCO transfer in all of Division 3 according to 247 sports & AthLinkd database.

Reggie Moody is a 5'11 dual threat improviser from Red Oak, he was one of the best high school QB recruits I've seen us get in 5-10 years. Reminds me of Vernon Adams Jr a bit, if anyone remembers him from Eastern Washington/Oregon.

Looks like QB1 will be in good hands next season.. excited to see how it unfolds. 

Annnd there goes Moody:

https://x.com/rmoodyjr10/status/1913288253739876487

[Crubacker]

This is frickin ridiculous!  Reminded me of Blake Jackson!

[Crubacker]

Man, still nothing on schedule this late?  I think someone mentioned before that one year the schedule didn't come out until May??

[UMHB03]

Damn, I guess the schedule won't come out until August

At this point, I'm almost expecting them to just start announcing the games the week before they're played. 

[Crubacker]

There's at least 8 confirmed already despite the fact that ETBU games are not showing.  Maybe they have avoided setting those dates with ETBU because they are still trying to work in the 2 remaining non-con games.  I know they have Bethel, TN and UW-W both coming to Belton plus the 6 conf games so still 2 to go.

[UMHB03]

There's at least 8 confirmed already despite the fact that ETBU games are not showing.  Maybe they have avoided setting those dates with ETBU because they are still trying to work in the 2 remaining non-con games.  I know they have Bethel, TN and UW-W both coming to Belton plus the 6 conf games so still 2 to go.

Yes, thankfully we do know, or have a decent idea about 8 of the games. So far the conference schedule has had the same opponents on the same weekends with sites reversed, so if that remains consistent, we would be on the road against ETBU October 4 and face them at home November 1.

Here's what we know so far:

September 6        BETHEL
September 13       Open
September 20       UW-WHITEWATER
September 27       Open
October 4            @ ETBU ?
October 11         @ Hardin-Simmons
October 18         HOWARD PAYNE
October 25         Open
November 1          ETBU ?
November 8         HARDIN-SIMMONS
November 15        @ Howard Payne

[Ron Boerger]

Former ETBU QB Kaden Brown is back in the portal after concluding spring practice at La Tech.  Good grief.

https://x.com/_KadenBrown_/status/1916182726207541273

[CruFrenzy]

Former ETBU QB Kaden Brown is back in the portal after concluding spring practice at La Tech.  Good grief.

https://x.com/_KadenBrown_/status/1916182726207541273

Word at the rumor mill is there is mutual interest between UMHB and Brown... wouldn't that be a turn of events.

Would be fascinating to see what coach Lee could do with Mouser AND Kaden Brown, who may have been the best QB in D3 football last season.

[Ron Boerger]

His twitter page now shows offers from Southwest Baptist, A&M-Kingsville, Navarro, Trinity Valley.

[wally_wabash]

AND Kaden Brown, who may have been the best QB in D3 football last season.

Come on now. 

[CruFrenzy]

I didn't say he lead the nation in passing yards. But there's a case to be made.

Top 5 best QBs in NO PARTICULAR order from 2024

Zac Boyes - Cortland State
Syverson - SJU
Luke Lehnen- NCC
Kaden Brown - ETBU
Semptimphelter - John Carroll