FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Caz Bombers]

perhaps tangential to this discussion, I have found a disappointing number of D3 schools that "sponsor" women's golf without having enough student-athletes to score as a team in any events. Some of these have an online roster of 1-3 student-athletes, or even 0. Still shows up on their athletic websites as a sport they sponsor. I believe such schools are supposed to get written up by the Membership Committee, yet I can't say I've ever seen it reflected in those reports.

[Ralph Turner]

Simply calling a team that's only participating in your championship weekend an affiliate member of your conference for the sole purpose of securing an automatic bid is kind of unfair honestly.

If it's permitted by the NCAA, then it's perfectly fair.  Highly unusual, yes.  And if not for the C2C doing something similar (as Pat mentioned), there would be a number of schools without access to auto bids - such as the recently crowned MBB national champions - in many sports. 

And at least millions of dollars were not involved to make this happen.

IMHO, the panache of playing in the SCAC departed with Trinity. I am glad that the return to the ASC means playing fewer contests on Sunday for all sports.
My conjecture... but the money also helped Schreiner fund their nascent football program.

[Ralph Turner]

Simply calling a team that's only participating in your championship weekend an affiliate member of your conference for the sole purpose of securing an automatic bid is kind of unfair honestly.

If it's permitted by the NCAA, then it's perfectly fair.  Highly unusual, yes.  And if not for the C2C doing something similar (as Pat mentioned), there would be a number of schools without access to auto bids - such as the recently crowned MBB national champions - in many sports. 

And at least millions of dollars were not involved to make this happen.

Referring to the money that the ASC paid for McMurry and Schreiner to move...
IMHO, the panache of playing in the SCAC departed with Trinity. I am glad that the return to the ASC means playing fewer contests on Sunday for all sports.
My conjecture... but the money also helped Schreiner fund their nascent football program.

[Ron Boerger]

perhaps tangential to this discussion, I have found a disappointing number of D3 schools that "sponsor" women's golf without having enough student-athletes to score as a team in any events. Some of these have an online roster of 1-3 student-athletes, or even 0. Still shows up on their athletic websites as a sport they sponsor. I believe such schools are supposed to get written up by the Membership Committee, yet I can't say I've ever seen it reflected in those reports.

Since individuals can also qualify for NCAA post-season competition based on results (the best "X" scorers on teams that did not qualify are also invited) this seems legit, if not optimal.  I'm assuming those schools are also providing coaching support and access to regular season meets. 

[Ron Boerger]

IMHO, the panache of playing in the SCAC departed with Trinity. I am glad that the return to the ASC means playing fewer contests on Sunday for all sports.
My conjecture... but the money also helped Schreiner fund their nascent football program.

Agree that the money was vital for Schreiner and really helpful for McMurry, who out of the blue announced they will start a gymnastics program for both women and men this week. 

The funny thing is that Colorado College was then and is still now the most academically elite school in the conference; Austin's not that far behind.  And it wouldn't surprise me to see Southwestern (who probably slots between the two) to return.

[Patrick Coleman]

perhaps tangential to this discussion, I have found a disappointing number of D3 schools that "sponsor" women's golf without having enough student-athletes to score as a team in any events. Some of these have an online roster of 1-3 student-athletes, or even 0. Still shows up on their athletic websites as a sport they sponsor. I believe such schools are supposed to get written up by the Membership Committee, yet I can't say I've ever seen it reflected in those reports.

I think this only happens if the sport is needed to meet the requirement of one sport per gender per season (fall/winter/spring) or for the minimum number of total sports for D-III membership. I've definitely seen it in those meeting minutes, though.

[Ralph Turner]

IMHO, the panache of playing in the SCAC departed with Trinity. I am glad that the return to the ASC means playing fewer contests on Sunday for all sports.
My conjecture... but the money also helped Schreiner fund their nascent football program.

Agree that the money was vital for Schreiner and really helpful for McMurry, who out of the blue announced they will start a gymnastics program for both women and men this week. 

The funny thing is that Colorado College was then and is still now the most academically elite school in the conference; Austin's not that far behind.  And it wouldn't surprise me to see Southwestern (who probably slots between the two) to return.

I like Trinity over Colorado College...

Will the travel budget for Southwestern be the deterrent to continuing in the SAA?

As for Gymnastics, I wonder if that comes from the President who came from Baker University in Kansas. The old Big 8 was a HUGE gymnastics conference. McMurry has tried to be ahead of the game in intercollegiate activities at this D3 level in this part of the country. They added e-sports several years ago. They have had swimming for 30-odd years.  They added Dance and Cheer earlier this year. I believe the push is for admissions to attract the high school grads with those interests from the hundreds of high schools which have affiliated with McMurry across the state.

Also adding Rugby (a club sport) would not surprise me either.

[Caz Bombers]

perhaps tangential to this discussion, I have found a disappointing number of D3 schools that "sponsor" women's golf without having enough student-athletes to score as a team in any events. Some of these have an online roster of 1-3 student-athletes, or even 0. Still shows up on their athletic websites as a sport they sponsor. I believe such schools are supposed to get written up by the Membership Committee, yet I can't say I've ever seen it reflected in those reports.

I think this only happens if the sport is needed to meet the requirement of one sport per gender per season (fall/winter/spring) or for the minimum number of total sports for D-III membership. I've definitely seen it in those meeting minutes, though.

I meant I've never seen it for golf specifically, sorry. I have seen it in the minutes for other sports, usually cross country I feel like?

[Ron Boerger]

Will the travel budget for Southwestern be the deterrent to continuing in the SAA?

This is just me spitballing, but if they do leave it would be the combination of travel cost and time, along with the fact that it's now virtually impossible for students, staff, and local fans to support their teams at championships with the great majority being east of the Mississippi.  I know that there are some huge SAA supporters at Trinity in both administration and athletics; not sure that's the case at Southwestern. 

And, quite frankly, the SCAC front office IMO seems to do a better job organizing and supporting their sports and teams.

[Ralph Turner]

As I review Dwayne Hanberry's body of work over the last two decades, I cannot think of a better Commissioner in D3.  With the current configuration of SCAC football, Southwestern would be very competitive every season.