Is Texas A&M-Texarkana adding a football program?

The Eagles will likely be the next Texas non-FBS school to start a football program. Last Thursday, Jason Hopkins published a story in the Texarkana Gazette about A&M-Texarkana adding more sports. However, the Gazette removed information about the football program and a new on-campus stadium after TAMUT officials indicated the details were not finalized.

One unknown is whether the Eagles will compete in NAIA or NCAA Division II. TAMUT competes in the Red River Athletic Conference, which does not sponsor football. The Eagles could remain in NAIA and seek to become an associate member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. But TAMUT officials have bigger aspirations. The Eagles hope to soon begin transitioning to DII.

This leads to the question of which DII conference TAMUT would join. Sources indicate the Eagles prefer to join the Great American Conference, which has a footprint throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma. Ordinarily, the GAC would not be looking to expand to 13 members. However, we do not live in ordinary times, and the GAC could be interested in TAMUT to ease the potential loss of Oklahoma schools should the Oklahoma legislature follow through on its desire to place all Oklahoma DII schools in the same conference.

Another potential landing spot for TAMUT could be the Lone Star Conference if the GAC declines to invite the Eagles, especially if they add a football program with plans to build an on-campus stadium soon.

Reader Questions

On Wednesday, I asked readers for questions on my social media accounts, and the response was amazing! Please send any questions you’d like answered in a future edition of the Blitz to cory.hogue@texasfootball.com or @CoryHogueSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or Bluesky.

In your opinion, what is the best decision for each ASC institution moving forward?

I’m often asked what I think about certain topics but rarely asked for my opinion. I view my thoughts and opinions differently. What I think is based on what I’m hearing about the topic at that moment in time. My opinion is based on what I believe would be the best outcome. In this case, what is the best decision for each ASC institution?

Understanding the underlying issues is essential for making the best decision for each school moving forward. Some of these issues include Division III schools growing weary of being dominated by the ‘purple’ schools in athletics, particularly on the football field. However, the most significant divide stems from parochial and political differences, which played a crucial role in the schools that departed for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

The most significant issue is a lack of trust between the institutions. According to multiple sources, the bridge of trust among the remaining ASC presidents is shaky at best. There is one ASC school that aligns perfectly with the SCAC institutions, and it hasn’t wholly burned its bridges with those presidents. This is why Howard Payne is the only school that should join the SCAC. 

Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor should join the Lone Star Conference. If I were HSU, I’d contact LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner today to initiate the process. It doesn’t make sense for HSU to wait any longer for UMHB to make a decision. The Cowboys are being pushed out of DIII, and the sooner they start the transition, the better it will be for the university's long-term stability.

UMHB joining the LSC won’t be popular with many associated with the university, but hear me out for a minute. I understand the Crusaders have larger aspirations than joining DII. The fact is, the Cru doesn’t have the funding to be competitive for a decade or two if they jump to Division I and the Pioneer Football League. I believe UMHB will one day land in a DI conference, but the school needs more financial support for that to happen.

East Texas Baptist is the most challenging to address. The Tigers would love to join the Southern Athletic Association but don’t align with the conference's academic profile. The SCAC isn’t an option with a change in political and parochial views. Many sources question whether ETBU has the financial resources to compete in the LSC. I find it hard to believe that a move to NAIA would be in their best interest. However, the Great American Conference might be receptive to adding ETBU, especially if the Oklahoma legislature follows through on its goal to form a single Oklahoma DII conference. I would do everything I could to join the GAC, as the other options are not favorable for the school’s future.

Do you believe we need a college football commissioner?

I can’t see a college football commissioner being beneficial for Non-FBS schools, which have been pleading for more funding from the NCAA every year. I only envision a commissioner being advantageous for Non-FBS if they are completely independent of the other commissioners. Given that DII and DIII are funded by revenue from the Division I men’s basketball tournament, the NCAA will resist any attempts to grant the lower divisions that much power.