2000 American Southwest Conference

2000 ASWC

1999 ASWC

1998 ASWC

The American Southwest Conference has been in existence since 1996, but its beginnings date back to 1976 with the formation of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The TIAA, a non-scholarship and coeducational athletic conference (the first organization of its kind in the Southwest), was formed on May 2, 1976 and consisted of five charter members -- Austin College, McMurry College, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University and Trinity University. Howard Payne University moved to the TIAA from the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference in 1987. Midwestern State University was an associate member in 1987, competing only in football before becoming a full member in 1990. In June of 1989, University of Dallas became the seventh conference member, and Hardin-Simmons University joined the TIAA in April of 1990. Tarleton State became the second charter member to withdraw from the conference on May 15, 1991, becoming the first TIAA member to join the Lone Star Conference (Midwestern State moved to the Lone Star Conference in 1995). In the early 1990s, the University of the Ozarks and Mississippi College, along with the hiring of the first commissioner, brought further exposure and recognition to the TIAA. At its spring meeting in May of 1996, the TIAA hired Fred Jacoby as its first commissioner and renamed itself the American Southwest Conference (ASC) to better reflect the geography of the conference. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor joined the conference in 1997, becoming the first school to be added to the newly named ASC. The end of 1997 brought four new schools into the conference with the addition of University of Texas at Dallas, Schreiner College, LeTourneau University, East Texas Baptist University and Concordia University at Austin. Texas Lutheran Univeristy and Louisiana Collegewere added to the conference in 1998.

If USA Football™ does not have the answer Click here to Ask Jeeves

2000 American Southwest Conference Highlights	2000 American Southwest Conference Standings
Hardin-Simmons completed its second straight unbeaten regular season, claiming the American Southwest Conference title as well as the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Austin RB Aaron Kernek was chosen the Offensive Player of the Year while Howard Payne LB Mike Tates and Mary Hardin-Baylor LB Preston Meyer shared the Defensive Player of the Year honores.	1 Hardin-Simmons Cowboys 9 0 10 0 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders 8 1 9 1 3T Austin Kangaroos 6 3 7 3 3T Howard Payne Yellow Jackets 6 3 6 3 5 McMurry Indians 5 4 6 4 6 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 4 5 4 6 7 Mississippi College Choctaws 3 6 3 7 8 Sul Ross State Lobos 2 7 2 7 9T East Texas Baptist Tigers 1 8 2 8 9T Louisiana College Wildcats 1 8 2 8

2000 American Southwest Conference Football All Stars

Offensive First Team

QB	Payton Perrett	So.	Mississippi College	5-9	175	Brandon, MS
RB	Richard Green	Sr.	Howard Payne	5-11	215	Mart, TX
RB	Aaron Kernek	Sr.	Austin	5-9	165	Sunset, TX
RB	Jeff Shinn	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	5-9	200	Canyon Lake, TX
WR	Rory Peacock	Sr.	McMurry	6-2	200	Woodson, TX
WR	Kirk Rogers	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-2	210	Olney, TX
SB	Bary Donham	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-4	190	Plainview, TX
TE	David Branscom	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	5-9	175	Jacksboro, TX
OC	LaRon Slay	Sr.	Howard Payne	6-4	230	Killeen, TX
OG	Michael Bradford	Sp.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	6-3	275	LaMarque, TX
OG	B.J. Gotte	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	6-2	290	Katy, TX
OT	Josh Heimann	Jr.	Texas Lutheran	6-3	260	Floresville, TX
OT	Justin Watson	Sr.	Austin	6-5	285	Linden, TX

Defensive First Team

DL	Harold Brooks	Sr.	Howard Payne	5-9	175	East Bernard, TX
DL	Jacob Freeman	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-11	215	Roscoe, TX
DL	Charles Gurley	Sr.	Austin	5-9	165	Wichita Falls, TX
DL	Kevin McQueen	Sr.	Howard Payne	5-9	200	Jasper, TX
LB	Reed Heim	Sr.	Austin	6-2	200	Dallas, TX
LB	Preston Meyer	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	6-2	210	Sabinal, TX
LB	Jared Sanderson	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-4	190	Breckenridge, TX
LB	Mike Tates	Sr.	Howard Payne	5-9	175	Bryan, TX
DB	Dylan DeCuire	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	6-4	230	Waco, TX
DB	Tanner Etheredge	Sr.	Howard Payne	6-3	275	Klondike, TX
DB	Jeremiah Johnson	Sr.	Howard Payne	6-2	290	Snyder, TX
DB	Innocent Malik	Jr.	Howard Payne	6-3	260	Rowlett, TX

Special Teams First Team

PK	Kevin Wilburn	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	5-9	175	Copperas Cove, TX
P	Scott Verhalen	Fr.	East Texas Baptist	5-11	215	Marshall, TX
RS	Barry Donham	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	165	Plainview, TX

Offensive Second Team

QB	Travis Jones	So.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	175	Amarillo, TX
QB	Josh McCasland	So.	Hardin-Simmons	5-11	215	Weatherford, TX
RB	Paxton Hurst	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	165	Farmersville, TX
RB	Scott Kissee	Jr.	Sul Ross State	5-9	200	San Antonio, TX
WR	Troy Davis	Sr.	Howard Payne	6-2	200	Markham, TX
WR	A.C. Hood	Sr.	Sul Ross State	6-2	210	San Antonio, TX
SB	Keidric Dixon	Sr.	McMurry	6-4	190	Lufkin, TX
OC	Thomas Anderson	So.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	175	Granbury, TX
OG	Matt Royals	Jr.	McMurry	6-4	230	Abilene, TX
OG	Matt Walker	So.	Austin	6-3	275	Madisonville, TX
OT	Earl Anthony	Jr.	Mississippi College	6-2	290	Woodville, MS
OT	Coby Yowell	Sr.	McMurry	6-3	260	Waxahachie, TX

Defensive Second Team

DL	Keith Browning	Jr.	Howard Payne	5-9	175	Houston, TX
DL	Tim Eason	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-11	215	Fort Worth, TX
DL	Kurt Evans	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	165	Clyde, TX
DL	Johnny Golden	Sr.	McMurry	5-9	200	Alvin, TX
LB	Jim Bird	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	6-2	200	Groveton, TX
LB	Mike McKelvey	Sr.	Mississippi College	mm	210	Semmes, AL
LB	Cale Melton	Sr.	McMurry	6-4	190	Atlanta, TX
LB	Jason Morrison	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	175	Abilene, TX
DB	Corbett Boone	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-4	230	Stephenville, TX
DB	Howard Brown	Fr.	Louisiana College	6-3	275	Longview, TX
DB	John Gayhart	Sr.	Howard Payne	6-2	290	Dallas, TX
DB	Roque Vela	Sr.	McMurry	6-3	260	Laredo, TX

Special Teams Second Team

PK	Clayton Runyan	Sr.	McMurry	5-9	175	Lubbock, TX
P	Wilson Hillman	Sr.	Mississippi College	5-11	215	Greenwood, MS
RS	Rico Gardner	So.	Howard Payne	5-9	165	Avinger, TX

Offensive Honorable Mention

SB	Vance Andry	Sr.	Mississippi College	5-9	175	Wheaton, IL
P	Jim Bird	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	5-11	215	Matteson, IL
RS	Keidric Dixon	Sr.	McMurry	5-9	165	Merritt Island, IL
OG	Brandon Jones	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	5-9	200	Zion, IL
OT	Colby Marcum	Fr.	McMurry	6-2	200	Austin, TX
PK	Drew McMaster	Fr.	Howard Payne	6-2	210	Zion, IL
OT	Matt Morris	Fr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-4	190	Rolling Meadows, IL
QB	Isaiah Navarrete	Sr.	McMurry	5-9	175	Lombard, IL
WR	Kris Pickle	Sr.	Mississippi College	6-4	230	Lisle, IL
TE	Josh Walker	So.	Howard Payne	6-3	275	West Peoria, IL

Defensive Honorable Mention

DT	Tim Biven	Sr.	Mississippi College	5-9	175	Wheaton, IL
DB	Braylon Curry	Fr.	Austin	5-11	215	Matteson, IL
SS	Chris Fambro	Jr.	McMurry	5-9	165	Merritt Island, IL
LB	Andy Garza	Sr.	Howard Payne	5-9	200	Zion, IL
DB	LaRon Grady	So.	Texas Lutheran	6-2	200	Austin, TX
DB	Andy Howard	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons	6-2	210	Zion, IL
FS	Andrew Hufford	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor	6-4	190	Rolling Meadows, IL
DE	Will Huggins	Jr.	McMurry	5-9	175	Lombard, IL
DB	Zane Jillson	So.	Hardin-Simmons	6-4	230	Lisle, IL
DL	Chad Matthews	Sr.	Texas Lutheran	6-3	275	West Peoria, IL
CB	Jonathon McMillan	Sr.	Mississippi College	6-2	290	Wichita Falls, TX
FS	Stacy Nunez	Sr.	Sul Ross State	6-3	260	Polo, IL
DL	John Palmer	Jr.	Austin	6-5	285	Harvard, IL
SS	Dennis Skains	Sr.	Mississippi College	5-11	270	Naperville, IL
LB	Brian Valenzuela	Sr.	McMurry	m m	m	mm

Austin Kangaroos East Texas Baptist Tigers Hardin-Simmons Cowboys Howard Payne Yellow Jackets Louisiana College Wildcats

Hardin-Simmons Picked to repeat Hardin-Simmons is an overwhelming choice to repeat as American Southwest Conference champions in the 2000 ASC Football Preseason Coaches Poll. The Cowboys return 13 starters and 34 letterman from a squad that went 12-1 last season, including a 10-0 regular season record. HSU became the first ASC team to participate in the NCAA Division III Playoffs last season, winning two games by a combined score of 79-24 before losing to Trinity in the quarterfinals. Hardin-Simmons has won 14 consecutive conference games, dating back to a Nov. 15, 1997 loss to Sul Ross State. Howard Payne edges McMurry for the second spot in the poll. HPU raced out to a 3-0 start in league play in 1999 before finishing 4-3 in the ASC (5-5 overall) while McMurry’s (7-2, 6-1) only losses were to playoff qualifiers Trinity and Hardin-Simmons. Howard Payne senior running back Richard Green is tabbed as the ASC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He earned first-team All-ASC honors last season after leading the league in rushing (130.7 ypg) and all purpose yardage (146.3 ypg). HPU senior linebacker Mike Tates and Hardin-Simmons junior linebacker Jared Sanderson are picked as Co-Preseason Defensive Players of the Year. Both were first-team All-Conference honorees last season, with Tates earning first-team recognition for the second consecutive year. Tates finished second in the conference in tackles (87, 9.7 tpg) while Sanderson finished sixth in that category (86, 8.6 tpg).

Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders McMurry Indians Mississippi College Choctaws Sul Ross State Lobos Texas Lutheran Bulldogs