DALLAS, Texas – The members of the American Southwest Conference began the 2025-26 season active in the community through visiting schools, creating awareness for illnesses, honoring those who make large impacts and helping those in need.
 
All four member institutions started the season by wearing green Texas-shaped patches in honor of those who lost their lives in the Kerrville floods. The student-athletes wear these patches on jerseys, during practice and around campus in support of those families and as a reminder to keep the community in their thoughts and prayers.
 
In Marshall, the East Texas Baptist SAAC put on a Jacket Drive during the month of September. They collected jackets at multiple sporting events and placed boxes around town to collect jackets for youth in need in Marshall ISD. The Tiger softball team held a Stamp Drive to help support their Pen Pal Program, which fosters connection and builds relationships with children in the community. ETBU’s women’s basketball team spent a day at Mission Marshall sorting and packaging food for those in need. The Tiger football and women’s basketball teams have spent time throughout the month picking up trash on Van Zandt St. ETBU’s softball and acrobatics and tumbling teams have also given out morning high fives at Hallsville and Marshall ISD, welcoming kids to school.
 
In Abilene, Hardin-Simmons student-athletes across many sports have spent their Friday mornings at local schools. The student-athletes greet the kids as they are entering the school, giving high fives and encouraging them to end the week on a strong note.
 
In Brownwood, Howard Payne’s men’s basketball team has visited many schools in their local community. The Yellow Jackets had lunch at East Elementary on Grandparents Day and went to Early High School’s Homecoming celebration to celebrate with students and faculty. The HPU men’s basketball program also participated in Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build where they helped build beds for children in need of a place to sleep. The Yellow Jacket women’s soccer team spent a Saturday at the Opening Day for Centex Soccer Association to cheer on local teams. Extra Yard for Teachers Week was celebrated on September 20^th as the Yellow Jackets football team took on Wayland Baptist. Howard Payne Athletics recognized and celebrated the impact of teachers.
 
In Belton, Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics recognized and honored local first responders at their annual Hometown Heroes football game on September 6^th. The Cru also put on a Paint it Gold event and raised money and created awareness for Pediatric cancer over the weekend of September 19^th at their home volleyball, soccer and football contests. During the volleyball game against East Texas Baptist, the team invited a young girl fighting cancer onto the court for a prayer and moment of silence. UMHB SAAC put on a food drive at the Men’s and Women’s Soccer Games on September 26^th to collect food for The Source, which is a food pantry for students on campus. Throughout the month the Cru baseball team has adopted two young boys who lost their father and invited them to hang out at practices and be a part of the team. The UMHB basketball teams have also visited local elementary schools for “High Five Fridays”.