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I know we have discussed this impending move in the past, but I couldn't find a thread.

Houston Chronicle wrote:HBU will play football, join Southland Conference
By JUSTIN SCHNEEWIND, For the Chronicle
Updated 07:28 p.m., Monday, November 21, 2011


Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett, left , shakes hands with HBU President Robert B. Sloan Jr. after it was announced during a press conference that Houston Baptist University has accepted an invitation to join the Southland Conference beginning with 2013-14 academic year. The announcement was made on campus November 21, 2011 in Houston. The Huskies will also add football to their current lineup of sports and begin Southland Conference play on 2014. Photo: Houston Chronicle, Bob Levey / ©2011 Bob Levey

The holidays came early for Houston Baptist University and the Southland Conference as both crossed an item off their wish lists.

HBU joined a conference with nearby members and a home for all of its sports except men's soccer, and the Southland added its first-ever Houston member and an institution that will soon bring another football team to its conference.

The Southland officially extended an invitation, effective July 1, 2013, to HBU on Monday, an invitation the Huskies accepted.

HBU will begin a football program that will play in the Southland in 2014 and may compete as soon as 2013.

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I'm pretty excited for the Huskies. This is a huge step forward for them.

More football is always better.

Hope UTPA follows suit.

UTPA needs to follow suit or they're screwed as the Great West as a full-sports conference is done.

Utah Valley should be sending some love letters to Doug Fullerton.

Who?

Sadly, I can say that I saw them play basketball.

Always good to see another FCS program

I think this sucks. I think Southeastern Louisiana and Lamar starting football programs has already hurt McNeese significantly and now we're going to have another FCS in Houston. McNeese is a low budget program and, normally, 95% or more of their roster comes from within a 200 mile radius of the school. More than that, it's not really a radius like a circle. Most of it comes from the I-10 corridor from the Mississippi/Louisiana border over to Houston.

It's a talent rich area. VERY talent rich. But it's past the point where there are too many FCS programs and bottom feeding Sun Belt type FBS programs drawing from it.

UT-Pan Am is not starting up a football program. They barely are hanging on to what they have. Frankly they'd be better off in Lone Star Conference.

Having a third FCS program in Greater Houston along with a pair of FBS schools does make for tight quarters at times. But there is plenty of talent to go around. But you are correct in stating that Lamar & HBU will impact McNeese moving forward.

There are a slew of details to be worked and funds to be raised. But this is a huge step forward for the Huskies.

CAA Flagship wrote:Sadly, I can say that I saw them play basketball.

HBU just beat Cal State Fullerton. Yes, that's a shock to me, too.

T-Dog wrote:UTPA needs to follow suit or they're screwed as the Great West as a full-sports conference is done.

Utah Valley should be sending some love letters to Doug Fullerton.

Don't they still have NJIT?

The name I am hearing bandied about here in Houston for the head coach position is Charlie Ward. He is head coach of a Christian HS team near HBU and apparently is on HBU's Board of Trustees. He'd obviously need to hire an experienced staff since he has zero college coaching experience. But he could certainly do a good job selling the program through the media & fundraising.

Sly Fox wrote:The name I am hearing bandied about here in Houston for the head coach position is Charlie Ward. He is head coach of a Christian HS team near HBU and apparently is on HBU's Board of Trustees. He'd obviously need to hire an experienced staff since he has zero college coaching experience. But he could certainly do a good job selling the program through the media & fundraising.

You mean ex-FSU/NBA Charlie Ward?

One & the same. He's local, media friendly & accustomed tobraising money. What he lacks is college coaching experience.

You people are stating 3 FCS programs in the area but there is also Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M and SAM is not that far from Houston, either(70 miles). The SLC is moving more east now that TXST, UTSA and UTA are going to the WAC.

I was referring to TSU, Prairie View & HBU as the three in Greater Houston. Frankly Sam & Lamar are similar in distance from downtown Houston ... 70 miles to Sam & 88 to Lamar.