FB: American Southwest Conference

[Crubacker]

Didn't waste any time did he?

[Etchglow]

Kole Meador
Jamichael Cooper
Dominic Battle III
Malachi Johnson
Deuce Solomon
TJ Duncan
Sean Masia-Bryant

also hit the portal.

Seeing that supposedly already 799 D3/D2 kids in the portal.

Tracking UMHB Kids:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a5bzMA6WXdUjZf7-gqeNxzwB16nxvGeJ9oPuaHLUFh4/edit?usp=sharing

[HSUCowboy2015]

Is it just me or has UMHB just had a mass flood of "portal" entries every year right after the season ends in the Harmon era? I know HSU goes through it to, just seems like it's much more broadcasted and on a larger scale than normal?

Not trying to take shots, just curious to see what the Crusader fans opinions are on it.

[Ralph Turner]

It seems to me that the UMHB problem is that they have bunch of talented kids who believe that their talents warrant a starting or very prominent role at UMHB and that is not being fulfilled by the system in place at UMHB. Their short term options, after all they are using years of eligibility, are to assess the immediate gain in the 2026 season at UMHB or look to another school. That school could be a D2, or another D3 with a glaring need.

Back in the day, circa Meat on the Hoof, they would just quit, realizing that their talent had exhausted   the capacity to provide playing time, either at a UMHB or at D2 Elsewhere State, or a scholarship UT Longhorn team giving 70 scholarships per year to suck up the talent from the TCU's SMU's, Rice's, Tech's and A&M's of the world, and thus D1 scholarship limits. In the Meat on the Hoof scenario, they would burn themselves out on Darrell Royal's practice field and never see a collegiate down of football they would have played at another SWC school.

I believe we are seeing a variation of this with the portal.

[Ralph Turner]

Cory Hogue made the front page of D3Playbook today. He elegantly pleads his case for his request for UMHB to play more games. (I think that you can get access or subscribe to the email letter at steve at d3playbook dot com.)

For the sake of conversation, here is my response, forwarding a couple of posts from this board last week.

Region 3 football (South Atlantic-ish) / Re: FB: American Southwest Conference

FB: American Southwest Conference - Page 1814
FB: American Southwest Conference - Page 1814



November 13, 2025, 09:53:44 PM
I reviewed the UMHB margins of victory since 2000 over McMurry, until 2023.
No game in 2001, canceled after 9/11. No games in 2012-2015 with McMurry leaving for D2 and coming back, no game in 2020 due to COVID. There were 2 games in 2011, the latter being a 2nd round playoff in which McMurry's QB was injured.

14, 52, 57, 50, 72, 23, 42, 46, 33, 12, 1 and 29 in 2011, D-2 years, 63 in 2016, 62, 73, 79, COVID, 74, 59, 41 in 2023.

I would rather play home-and-home with a comparable opponent.

Region 3 football (South Atlantic-ish) / Re: FB: American Southwest Conference

FB: American Southwest Conference - Page 1814
FB: American Southwest Conference - Page 1814



November 13, 2025, 10:04:27 AM
For the sake of the athletes, I am happy for the players at Lyon or AC or Centenary getting the chance to play opponents of comparable skill level. That is not a knock, because D3 athletics is for the development of the young adult. Competing for a conference championship is the real benefit.



[Cory,] I am sure that you saw these posts on the ASC message board. If the mission and vision of a Lyon or an AC or a Centenary does not include beat-downs by UMHB and HSU, then UMHB and HSU are not peer institutions.

[Ron Boerger]

Cory's article is available on Substack, a couple of us are engaged with him there.  Not sure if it's available to all, but:  https://coryhoguesports.substack.com/p/how-texas-diii-leaders-can-fix-umhb

[Etchglow]

Is it just me or has UMHB just had a mass flood of "portal" entries every year right after the season ends in the Harmon era? I know HSU goes through it to, just seems like it's much more broadcasted and on a larger scale than normal?

Not trying to take shots, just curious to see what the Crusader fans opinions are on it.

HSU has had its share of kids entering the portal as well.

It seems to me that the UMHB problem is that they have bunch of talented kids who believe that their talents warrant a starting or very prominent role at UMHB and that is not being fulfilled by the system in place at UMHB. Their short term options, after all they are using years of eligibility, are to assess the immediate gain in the 2026 season at UMHB or look to another school. That school could be a D2, or another D3 with a glaring need.

Back in the day, circa Meat on the Hoof, they would just quit, realizing that their talent had exhausted   the capacity to provide playing time, either at a UMHB or at D2 Elsewhere State, or a scholarship UT Longhorn team giving 70 scholarships per year to suck up the talent from the TCU's SMU's, Rice's, Tech's and A&M's of the world, and thus D1 scholarship limits. In the Meat on the Hoof scenario, they would burn themselves out on Darrell Royal's practice field and never see a collegiate down of football they would have played at another SWC school.

I believe we are seeing a variation of this with the portal.

To me it is a mix of kids who aren't getting the playing time and who would've quit in the past and those who are legitimately good enough to get higher division offers.

I know Botts landed at rice and has played 9 games this year. Only 3 tackles but still a hell of a jump.

AJ Williams III was going to be a day 1 starter at NMSU before he got hurt.

TJ Rone is playing at least some at FCS Delaware state.

[CRULive1845]

Is it just me or has UMHB just had a mass flood of "portal" entries every year right after the season ends in the Harmon era? I know HSU goes through it to, just seems like it's much more broadcasted and on a larger scale than normal?

Not trying to take shots, just curious to see what the Crusader fans opinions are on it.

HSU has had its share of kids entering the portal as well.

It seems to me that the UMHB problem is that they have bunch of talented kids who believe that their talents warrant a starting or very prominent role at UMHB and that is not being fulfilled by the system in place at UMHB. Their short term options, after all they are using years of eligibility, are to assess the immediate gain in the 2026 season at UMHB or look to another school. That school could be a D2, or another D3 with a glaring need.

Back in the day, circa Meat on the Hoof, they would just quit, realizing that their talent had exhausted   the capacity to provide playing time, either at a UMHB or at D2 Elsewhere State, or a scholarship UT Longhorn team giving 70 scholarships per year to suck up the talent from the TCU's SMU's, Rice's, Tech's and A&M's of the world, and thus D1 scholarship limits. In the Meat on the Hoof scenario, they would burn themselves out on Darrell Royal's practice field and never see a collegiate down of football they would have played at another SWC school.

I believe we are seeing a variation of this with the portal.

To me it is a mix of kids who aren't getting the playing time and who would've quit in the past and those who are legitimately good enough to get higher division offers.

I know Botts landed at rice and has played 9 games this year. Only 3 tackles but still a hell of a jump.

AJ Williams III was going to be a day 1 starter at NMSU before he got hurt.

TJ Rone is playing at least some at FCS Delaware state.

Historically, most who have left have found little to no significant on field success at their next destination. BUT, it has to seem worth it in transferring up to a level that can provide more money by way of NIL and athletic scholarships vs having to pay private DIII tuition to play...even if you don't end up having significant on field impact at the next destination.

TJ for example transfered up and basically had similar numbers to what he had last season at UMHB, just without any TDs I believe. Since on field production was practically equal, assuming he got some type of athletic assistance at Delaware State (partial/full scholarship + some type of NIL), seems like that would be considered an all around net positive for him.

[CruFrenzy]

Only key portal departures so far have been on defense, all in the secondary.

JJ Davis, Battle III and D Morris.

Not great but if we can keep everyone else we have shown a good track record of whipping athletes into shape on that side of the ball. As long as we don't lose any more key guys or defensive lineman (much harder to find elite DLINE guys). Also offense is still in tact so far... need everyone back there.

[Etchglow]

Damon Hopkins
Jordan Daniel
Marcus Taylor II
Da'Marion Morris
Dominic Johnson

Those are the ones I've seen for today.

Only key portal departures so far have been on defense, all in the secondary.

JJ Davis, Battle III and D Morris.

Not great but if we can keep everyone else we have shown a good track record of whipping athletes into shape on that side of the ball. As long as we don't lose any more key guys or defensive lineman (much harder to find elite DLINE guys). Also offense is still in tact so far... need everyone back there.

Hopefully Horton comes back, he looked pretty good at times, but gonna need rb1, rb2, possibly te1, te2, lt, rg.

I think BJ Stewart might have 1 more year of eligibility though.

Also wonder what happened to Davonte Nephew, thought he had transferred to umhb this year...

[Ron Boerger]

I think BJ Stewart might have 1 more year of eligibility though.

He should - BJ played '21 (9 games), '22 (11), '23 (2, then injured) for Trinity.

[UMHB03]

It would be huge to get a weapon like Stewart back next year.

[CruFrenzy]

As far as I'm being told the WR corps including BJ should be back, obviously things can change on a whim nowadays but supposed to have them back. Horton is also returning from what I've been told. We can find a RB... heck theres probably 5 on JV that would be ready to go with minimal drop off, lol.

Also think there's a real case to be made for the offense taking a step forward with Horton, won't know for sure until we see a few games under center but I'm optimistic he would be an upgrade.

[Ron Boerger]

All-ASC teams announced.

Offensive POTY:  BJ Stewart, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Kaiden Roden, Hardin-Simmons
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Dominick Williams, East Texas Baptist
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Hayden Philpot, Hardin-Simmons
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Dominick Williams, East Texas Baptist
Co-Special Teams Player of the Year: Pedro Altamirano, Hardin-Simmons
Co-Special Teams Player of the Year: Elijah Cobos, Howard Payne
Co-Special Teams Player of the Year: BJ Stewart, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Freshman of the Year: Bryce Still, Howard Payne
Coach of the Year: Coby Gipson, Howard Payne