FB: Southern Athletic Association

[Ralph Turner]

On Monday, Southwestern announced its schedule.  Non-conference opponents will be McMurry, TLU, and Schreiner.  The new on-campus stadium is not ready so the first two home games - McMurry (Sep 5) and Trinity (Oct 10) will be held at the high school stadium that has hosted the Pirates since they resumed playing football.  The grand opening of the new "multi-purpose" stadium is scheduled for October 24, construction progress permitting.  It's been raining a lot this spring so if that continues into the summer the date could be at risk.

"Multi-purpose" in quotes because the only other sport besides football to possibly play there is lacrosse, and they will (per the release above) use the new facility as a backup.  There's no track.

Southwestern returns ten offensive and five defensive starters this year, so should be more competitive than last season's 4-6/2-5 SAA.

Will the new venue not host soccer?

[Ron Boerger]

Will the new venue not host soccer?

Not according to the information in the annoucement.  When they announced the facility last year the only athletes shown were a footballer and one or two lacrossers.  Soccer players prefer grass to artificial turf in my experience.

A video associated with an on-going fundraiser shows only clips of football and lacrosse players, and also has players from those two teams, and only those two teams, encouraging donations.