By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES — The Southland Conference officially hugged and made up with Stephen F. Austin Wednesday, three years after a bitter divorce.
Not far removed from kicking the SLC to the curb in 2021, the Lumberjacks announced their return to the Southland and got a resounding embrace from SLC members including neighborhood rival Northwestern State.
“We are extremely excited,” said NSU athletic director Kevin Bostian. “It makes us stronger in the competitive arena across numerous sports and strengthens us geographically. With the history between our institutions, their addition to the conference will stir emotions from our alumni and those who competed against Stephen F. Austin in the past. Having a nearby rival always adds to the atmosphere during competition. Having SFA in the Southland just feels right.”
His predecessor as Northwestern’s AD, Greg Burke, concurred.
“It’s great for the Southland Conference and especially good for Northwestern State to have SFA back in the fold,” said Burke, who led NSU Athletics for 26 years. “Too many times in today’s ever-changing and transitional world of college athletics, longtime rivalries go by the wayside. The fans. student-athletes and communities of Natchitoches and Nacogdoches will all benefit from this development.”
A focal point of fan reaction on social media: resumption of an annual football rivalry, which capped the regular season each year since NSU and SFA became conference cousins in 1984 until after the teams’ last league football showdown in 2019.
SFA becomes a full Southland member immediately, leading to a major reshuffle for all sports schedules.
The conference is working through the scheduling process for football and for all sports with the addition of SFA,” said Bostian. “We should be hearing something in the near future regarding football and fall sports as well as the 2025 spring sports calendar.”
The Lake Charles American Press reported McNeese officials expect the revised SLC football schedule will be released as soon as today.
After 34 years, the Nacogdoches, Texas institution departed the Southland hurriedly in 2021, joining the expansive Western Athletic Conference, which had visions of moving up from Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) to Football Bowl Subdivision status. SFA joined Southland members Abilene Christian, Lamar and Sam Houston heading west into a league that stretched across much of the western U.S., and owned a better men’s basketball profile anchored by Grand Canyon University.
The WAC’s football aspirations never gained traction. Meanwhile, division arose in the league’s ranks.
A few weeks ago, Grand Canyon and Seattle University – both non-football athletic programs — jilted the WAC for the hoops-rich West Coast Conference, which features basketball heavyweight Gonzaga and other nationally-reputable teams.
SFA won only won one WAC sport title in its three seasons, and didn’t make it into March Madness after going four times as the SLC champ from 2014-18. Meanwhile, dramatically-increased travel costs reportedly nearing $400,000 annually and road-weary coaches and players were stress points. Even more aggravating: seeing its nearby rival, Sam Houston, skip the WAC and join Conference USA for the 2023-24 seasons.
SFA hiked its athletic budget to over $23 million while in the WAC, a figure that more than doubles the money Northwestern spends. While away, SFA became part of the University of Texas system, providing an economic boost in spite of declining enrollment and other problems that led to a series of university leadership changes.
SFA is the second WAC member to join the Southland lineup this spring. In April, Texas-Rio Grande Valley signed on while announcing a commitment to start football in 2025, which will give the league 10 members in that signature sport. Lamar returned to the Southland fold after just one season in the WAC.
“I love the addition of SFA,” said McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer told Jim Gazzolo of the American Press. “It’s an established D-1 institution, a rival and is in our footprint. I think this addition truly solidifies our brand as a league.”
Said Burke: “It’s positive to see the Southland Conference rise again and speak to the foundation that, while not necessarily obvious in some corners, was always in place and now positions its membership for unprecedented growth and success.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com