Reactions to McMurry and Schreiner joining the ASC

The news of McMurry and Schreiner leaving the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and returning to the American Southwest Conference sent shockwaves across the NCAA Division III football landscape. The announcement of a 10-year agreement on Tuesday morning only added intrigue to the situation.

The coaches' reactions ranged from surprise to concern about how this move would affect them in the future. One coach said he learned about the move when he saw my post while leaving the practice field. Another coach responded with this quote from George S. Patton: “I am a Soldier. I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”

While adding the War Hawks and Mountaineers has many positive aspects, not the least of which is maintaining an automatic bid to the playoffs, some coaches held mixed opinions. Most are thrilled to end the double round-robin conference format. However, some coaches noted the need to find one more non-conference game each season, which is already challenging for Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Personally, I also have mixed emotions, but for different reasons. I’m happy the ASC will survive for a bit longer. ASC Commissioner David Flores told me that from the beginning, the ‘Baptist 4’ was committed to remaining together and keeping the conference alive. Make no mistake: That bond was thoroughly tested over the last two years. 

The administrations of HSU, UMHB, East Texas Baptist, and Howard Payne deserve a ton of credit for remaining together through the turmoil. Their efforts were not made easier by this writer publishing multiple stories about the impending doom facing the conference and trying to figure out where each team would land. Yet, those stories also confirmed their trust in each other as they worked behind the scenes to reach the agreement while knowing their talks were remaining private.

On the other hand, I feel for SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. He worked diligently to bring football back to the SCAC and was on a path toward ensuring the conference had the minimum six teams required to earn an automatic bid to the playoffs. The SCAC added Hendrix for the 2025-2026 academic year, so their two-year waiting period for an automatic bid would begin one year earlier than expected.

Now, he needs to add at least one more school that sponsors football for the conference to receive the automatic bid. Sources indicate some SCAC presidents and administrators are furious about the move, which is to be expected. 

Many of you have questions about the amount of money involved, if any, among other topics related to this news. I have a list of questions to be answered in a mailbag column on Tuesday, including questions around any buyout and the futures of the ASC, SCAC, and Lone Star Conference after this latest round of realignment.

UTPB delays its spring practice

UTPB was set to begin spring football practice on Tuesday this week. However, the university announced that it will now start on Monday, March 24. The change has nothing to do with the impending arrival of head coach Kris McCullough’s second child. Instead, McCullough delayed the start date due to an unexpected staff change.

Assistant head coach Tommy Crayton, who also coached tight ends, tackles, and served as the run game coordinator for the Falcons, accepted an assistant coaching position at FCS Lindenwood. 

UTPB is close to finalizing Mike Babcock's appointment as offensive line coach. Babcock brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Permian Basin region. He spent last season as a special assistant to the head coach at UCLA, following an 11-year tenure as head coach at Division II McKendree, where he led the Bearcats to a 58-52 overall record and a 43-31 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Before joining McKendree, Babcock spent time at UCLA, Colorado, San Diego, and Colorado State-Pueblo.

UMHB is searching for an OL coach once again

UMHB head coach Larry Harmon is searching for another offensive line coach after Cameron Norcross left to assume the same position at FCS Montana. Norcross is a highly-regarded offensive line coach who spent his entire career at the FBS level, stopping at Nevada, Fresno State, Vanderbilt, UNLV, and Kennesaw before joining the Cru in February.