College football fans love a good rivalry. Recent changes to conferences during realignment have ended several historical rivalries, leaving many fans nostalgic. 

In Texas Non-FBS alone, we’ve lost the Battle of the Piney Woods between Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-Kingsville battling for the Chennault Cup, and memorable battles on the gridiron between Tarleton and Midwestern State since 2018.

There are no definitive criteria for what makes a series turn into a rivalry. However, many of the FBS rivalries we love, like Texas and Oklahoma, share many of the same elements. While the series between Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor has often been one-sided, these teams are quickly developing the components needed to turn this into one of the best rivalries in college football.

For starters, a rivalry needs both teams to experience success historically. HSU restarted its football program in 1990, and UMHB started its program from scratch in 1998. Both programs have experienced massive success. Crusader fans now readily claim two national titles in 2018 and 2021 after the NCAA vacated the program’s 2016 national championship due to rules violations.

The teams have combined for 30 appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Since the American Southwest Conference began in 1996 following the dissolution of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Cowboys have 168 ASC victories, while UMHB has 169 conference wins. East Texas Baptist owns the third most ASC victories but remains at least 70 wins behind HSU and UMHB.

The Crusaders have claimed 18 ASC titles, and the Cowboys have nine, including laying claim to the 2023 crown for their first outright conference championship since 2004.

Typically, rivals need to have some geographic proximity. The Cru and Cowboys meet that criteria, with Abilene and Belton sitting 185 miles apart on Texas Highway 36. Rivals also need some shared values. Who shares more values than two Baptist-affiliated universities with the same school colors of purple and gold?

Another common denominator with the greatest rivalries in college football is notable coaches. UMHB and HSU check that box with two of the best coaches in the history of Non-FBS football. Jimmie Keeling led the Cowboys for 21 seasons, posting 172 wins, 10 conference titles (7 ASC, 3 TIAA), 11 NCAA Division III playoff appearances, and is a Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor member.

The legendary Pete Fredenburg needs no introduction after posting 231 wins in his 24 seasons at UMHB, with 17 ASC titles, 17 NCAA DIII playoff appearances, two national championships, membership in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and his name adorning the Crusader Stadium field.

School spirit is another integral part of a rivalry. I contacted a Hardin-Simmons coach to inquire about what makes the rivalry with UMHB so intense, and the response was, “Everything.” The Cowboys football program pays an ode to the military by adopting the phrase “HOOYAH.” There’s also a chant of “FTC” heard from HSU students during contests against UMHB. While some claim the slogan means “For the Cowboys,” others have said the phrase references the Cru in a manner that would make Jesus blush.

While many around UMHB downplay the rivalry with HSU, a photo of a Crusader athlete wearing a cowboy hat is said not to be seen on anything distributed by the school. After all, “We’re not Cowboys.” 

However, some claim the rivalry needs to include a few key elements. One former coach at UMHB responded to a question about the rivalry by stating, “Is it a rivalry if only one team wins?” A rivalry must indeed be competitive, and this series has been mostly one-sided.

The Cowboys won five of the first seven games in the series before UMHB reeled off 13 consecutive wins over HSU from November 2004 through the 2014 season. The streak began with a Cru playoff victory over HSU in Abilene one month after the Cowboys notched a 49-22 win in Belton. That was the last win for HSU in Belton until a 44-21 thrashing of the Cru on Saturday.

Nine games in the series have been decided by one score or less, with UMHB winning six of those contests. But the series has become closer since 2015. While the Cru has won seven of the 10 meetings in the series since 2015, four of those games have been decided by one score or less.

After the Cowboys secured their second consecutive win in the series on Saturday for the first time since 2004, one HSU representative stated, “They like to play (the rivalry) off like it’s no big deal but take a look at the D3 forums tonight, and you’ll find fans calling for the coach’s job (after HSU defeated the Cru on Saturday).” 

The postgame scene outside of Belton was undoubtedly different from previous occasions, and many fans noted that the Cowboys' improvement in recent years could indicate a change in the series and add a spark to the rivalry.

Memorable moments are another necessity in a rivalry, and this series has produced its share of memories over the last five years. Anthony Avila’s last-second field goal in 2019 was seen as controversial by heartbroken HSU fans and has become known as “The Kick” by UMHB supporters. The Cowboys suffered another heartbreaking loss in 2021 when they led by 21 points at halftime, only to see the Cru tie the game before the end of the third quarter and eventually win. More memorable moments appear on the horizon in this series.

The final element any true rivalry needs is a name or a trophy. For example, a trophy could pay homage to the Air Force base in Abilene or the Army post in Killeen, or a name could be created for Texas State Highway 36. Other options to consider include naming the series the “Holy Stampede” or the “Battle for the Sword and Spurs” to pay homage to the Crusaders and Cowboys. 

How about both? I imagine a nice trophy being created for the “Battle for the Sword and Spurs,” which could also pay tribute to the military connection in both communities. We’ll leave the trophy and name for people smarter than me. But the rivalry could soon pick up steam as the series becomes more competitive.