Welcome to the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN.

Here at the SCWTFMAN we will attempt to forecast the upcoming 2024 college football season by using our Sickos Committee alert system. We’re going to do this in the Famer’s Almanac style. If you don’t know what a Farmers' Almanac is, basically it provides long-range weather predictions for both the U.S. and Canada. We will be applying our forecast to all of Division I in the United States. We’re trying to predict what the upcoming season holds for all Division I teams in college football using our Sickos Committee Weather Alert System.

First we will preview the 129 FCS teams in a conference by conference breakdown over the next coming weeks. Then we will get to the FBS.

Will these previews be long winded and incredibly in depth? No. 

Will these previews be mostly based on “vibes” as assessed by the Sickos Committee weather forecasters? Yes. 

Basically, we’re going to try to assess the team as a Sickos Warning, Watch or Advisory, give you their record last year, provide a little blurb about the team and for the FCS version to possibly advise you of any of their games against the FBS and interesting schedule tidbits. This year we’re also adding a conference specific thing.

For the Southland Conference, we decided to give you the SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school. We had a little leeway to the east or west with the South direction to find a landmark here so don’t try to nitpick too much.

The Southland Conference

Houston Christian

Where: Houston, TX 

Last Year's Record: 5-5 Overall (4-3 Southland)

Why Should You Care: They were picked dead last last year and in their first Southland Conference game they upset the preseason favorites throwing the conference into chaos. Also they have a CVS right outside their stadium.

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - They had a trend setting offense that took off to Western Kentucky, had a down year or two, but they seem to be getting back on their feet and they are unpredictable here. Could they be good? Bad? In-between? No clue but they are fascinating.  

Potential Sickos Game(s): They play at SMU, home to Tarleton State, Louisiana Christian, at UTSA and at Indiana State???? Before conference play begins. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 70.8 Miles South - Old Quintana Historical Marker - Named for a Mexican general. Early as 1532 a thriving village. Port of entry in the Republic of Texas. Strategic fort in the Civil War. Industrial area, cattle and cotton shipping point, 1870-1900. Fashionable summer colony, 1884 and afterwards. Largely destroyed in 1900 storm. Now a resort and fishing center.

Incarnate Word

Where: San Antonio, TX 

Last Year's Record: 8–2 (6–1 Southland)

Why Should You Care: They were picked to finish 2nd in the Southland behind SE Louisiana were upset by Nicholls to finish 2nd in the Southland. They were seemingly snubbed from the FCS playoffs last year and couldn’t get back to the FCS Semifinals they made the year before. They play in Benson Stadium named after the late owner of the New Orleans Saints, who was also prominent in the area and from San Antonio.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - They’re a really solid FCS team and have been known to put up a ton of points. However, can they keep it up again this year?

Potential Sickos Game(s): Their opening schedule is quite insane. They welcome Northern Colorado, then at South Dakota State, at Southern Illinois, then back home against Northern Arizona. An interesting start of the year to say the least. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 239 Miles south to Fort Ringgold, the southernmost installation of the western tier of forts constructed at the end of the Mexican War, stood guard for nearly a century over the Rio Grande and Rio Grande City. On October 26, 1848, Bvt. Maj. Joseph H. LaMotte led two companies of the First United States Infantry to Davis Landing, near the newly established Rio Grande City in Starr County.

Lamar

Where: Beaumont, TX

Last Year's Record: 6–5 (5–2 Southland)

Why Should You Care: The 2023 season was the first season since 2018 with an overall winning record. You know we love a good turn around. Their Head Coach is from Staten Island, NY and is named Peter Rossomando. So we got a New Yorker in Beaumont, Texas and that is incredibly fun. Also, he played on the Best Season of All Time for Boston University. BSOATFSWSHAFT - Part 7 of ??? - The Boston University Terriers.

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - They had a very nice turnaround last year and this is fascinating if they can keep it going. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They don’t leave the state of Texas until Week 5, when they go to the Purple and Gray turf in Conway, Arkansas to face Central Arkansas. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 28.9 Miles South to Sabine Pass - 1886 Hurricane at Sabine Pass Landmark. In October 1886, Sabine Pass was the second largest town in Jefferson County, boasting a new rail line and an optimistic outlook on continued growth as a major coastal port. On the afternoon of October 12, just two months after a hurricane had destroyed the Texas port of Indianola (200 mi. SW), a fierce storm ravaged the town of Sabine Pass.

McNeese

Where: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Last Year's Record: 0–10 (1–6 Southland) (Don’t worry I’ll explain the Conference record later)

Why Should You Care: Lake Charles and McNeese need some love. In 2020, Lake Charles was devastated by Hurricane Laura. Just six weeks later, the city was hit again by Hurricane Delta. In the middle of the pandemic. Also, heavy rains from Hurricane Nicholas in 2021. They’re slowly picking things back up, I can completely understand as I went through Hurricane Katrina myself. One awesome note about McNeese, they’re the school to win the inaugural Independence Bowl in 1976.

They are 14 Time Southland Conference Champions but haven’t won a conference title since 2015. 

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - I want to keep the weather notes at a minimum for all McNeese State fans. Let’s hope they can get back to their FCS playoff regular selves and Mother Nature leaves them alone for a long long time. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They play two HBCU’s at home in Southern and Alcorn State. Also, they go all the way out to Ogden, Utah to play Weber State on September 28th. I really love these Big Sky vs Southland matchups. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 75.6 miles to the Sabine Pass lighthouse. Also, you’re going to need a boat to get to this one at the end of it. 

Nicholls

Where: Thibodaux

Last Year's Record:  6–5 (7–0 Southland) (Don’t worry I’ll explain the Conference record later)

Why Should You Care: Defending Southland Conference Champions. They upset Incarnate Word and spoiled the Cardinals title bid. Also, this school’s stadium is the home of the Manning Passing Academy and that’s cool on its own.

Also the Coaching staff has had the same Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator for the past decade. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - It’s almost a warning here but really when you win the Conference and don’t get a win outside of the Conference that is incredibly impressive and something the Committee loves. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They start on the road at La Tech, at LSU and then clear across the country to Sacramento State. They travel to Incarnate Word on October 12th and the Commish may just have to attend that one in his backyard. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 48.7 miles south to Cocodrie, which is basically in the Gulf of Mexico. La Butte - This Native American mound was constructed around AD 1000. It is 7 feet tall with a square~shaped base. It was once part of a larger complex made up of up to five mounds. The oak tree on the northwest corner is thought to mark the grave of Houma Courteau alias Touh-la-bayne of the Biloxi Nation who owned this property between 1822-1844. The historic Picou Cemetery on top dates from 1901-1990s.

Northwestern State

Where: Natchitoches, Louisiana

Last Year's Record: It doesn’t really matter here as they didn’t finish the season.  

Why Should You Care:  We normally don’t cover things like this at the Committee, but this team went through a terrible tragedy last year on October 12th when junior safety Ronnie Caldwell died after being shot multiple times. They forfeited their remaining games. Their coach resigned a few weeks later. There is ongoing litigation on the situation, and more details will eventually come to light. It’s an incredibly tragic situation that has rocked the program and the university. We’re glad they are going to play this year in some hope of somehow healing.

Sickos Forecast:  Advisory - Not too many expectations here and will just be really glad to see them on the field again. They hired an LSU Long Snapper, Blaine McCorkle, from the late 90’s as their Head Coach. He led D3 Belhaven to the playoffs last year. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): Just happy to see them play again. Every game is one to enjoy. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: Natchitoches is almost directly north of Lake Charles but let’s find another landmark. There is this on Google called A Cajun High Rise and it lists it as a Historical Landmark. I will credit this as I feel we need to smile now. It’s attached to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and 174 miles south from Natchitoches. Going to count it!  A Cajun High Rise 

Southeastern Louisiana

Where: Hammond, LA

Last Year's Record: 3–8 (3–4 Southland)

Why Should You Care: For a time they’d sell $5 Strawberry Daiquiris at Strawberry Field. Due to this information, the Shutdown Fullcast nicknamed them the Daiquiri Cats. I hope they still sell the daiquiris here and bet they do.

They had a really down year and their brutal early schedule got them off track. Hopefully they can get back to the FCS playoffs like they were in 2022. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - They were picked to finish 1st last year and completely underperformed all year long due to a myriad of different reasons. Was last year an aberration or the sign of things to come?

Potential Sickos Game(s): Remember I mentioned the brutal early schedule last year? Yeah, they are doing it again. They are at Tulane, at Southern Miss, welcome Eastern Washington for potential revenge from last year and then welcome South Dakota State to Strawberry field before beginning conference play! Whew let’s see how they do this year. 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 137 miles south to Grand Isle, LA. 32 - Pounder historical marker. This approximately 10-foot long, 32-pounder gun was cast at the Columbia Foundry Georgetown, D.C., for the United States Navy in 1821. It was originally part of the armament of the USS Columbia, until the ship was decommissioned in 1848. After that date the cannon was stored at the Norfolk Navy Yard. The weight of the cannon is marked as 59.1.0, which translates to 6,636 lbs. It fired a 32-pound cannonball up to 1,901 yards, or two-thirds of a mile, with a six-pound charge of black powder. The cannon is on loan to the people of Grand Isle from the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

Stephen F. Austin

Where:  Nacogdoches, Texas (I really love this conference; it has some of the most difficult cities to spell)

Last Year's Record: 3–8 (0–6 UAC) (oooooo a late conference changer)

Why Should You Care: They are the Lumberjacks, and we established we love all Lumberjacks here. They left the Southland Conference in 2021 to join the newest iteration of the WAC. Then, the WAC merged with the Atlantic Sun in 2022 to form the United Athletic Conference for football. Then they came back to the Southland on July 1, 2024. Then everyone had to redo their schedule to accommodate the Lumberjacks. Basically, they joined a packed table and just scooted right in the middle of it, so welcome back! Also, love the luxury boxes at the stadium.

Sickos Forecast:  Warning - When you change conferences less than 2 months before the season begins, that merits a Warning. How will their season go? I have no idea, but it will be extremely fascinating to see how they adapt on short notice. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): September 21 at home versus Northern Colorado will be a good measuring stick on the program. Also, they get their rivalry game back with Northwestern State on October 5th. Natchitoches vs Nacogdoches! Try to say that five times fast! (Yes, their Chief Caddo trophy is retired now) 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 189 miles south to the Point Bolivar Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is one of the few 19th-century lighthouses remaining on the Gulf Coast, and one of only two remaining iron lighthouses in Texas. Built in 1872, the Bolivar Point Lighthouse was first lighted November 19, 1872, and operated until it was retired from service on May 29, 1933. The light shined every night during its 60 years of service, except for two nights during a 1915 hurricane which destroyed the oil house.

Texas A&M–Commerce Lions

Where: Commerce, Texas

Last Year's Record:  1–9 (2–5 Southland)

Why Should You Care: This is the team that had the huge lion logo over their field.

They should bring that back immediately but I think Conference rules don’t allow it? Not sure. They won a NAIA National Title in 1972 and won a Division II National Title in 2017 and just made the leap to FCS in 2022. The school was formerly called East Texas State University too. 

Sickos Forecast:  Watch - The Lions love to explore the west this year and we’re not too sure how they are adapting to FCS life just yet. 

Potential Sickos Game(s): They play at San Diego State, at UC Davis to start the year. Then welcome Grambling State and Sacramento State. What an odd but fun schedule to start the year. More Big Sky vs Southland matchups! 

SOUTH-ern most LAND-mark from the school: 389 miles south to the Old Palacios Hotel. Built 1903, East Bay Front. Moved 1905 to present site. Enlarged. A resort for investors from the north, buying orchards, land on the coast. It had a famed dining room, permanent orchestra. Has withstood many hurricanes, including 1961's "Carla". Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1965. Currently called the Luther Hotel. It appears to be closed for now but still has that Texas Historical Landmark status. 

Also, we will see you next year UTRGV!!

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