Good morning from Houston!

As the Southland Conference has opened up their media day from the Hilton Americas, we're on-site to give you our best SFA-oriented commentary. The event is being broadcasted live on ESPN3 but be sure to stay on this page and keep hitting the refresh button as we update you all throughout the day.

3:15 PM -

As much as I'd love to stumble into Sam Houston State's press conference a few minutes late, I'll be respectful and control myself. During our one-on-one time with Coach Conque, we missed McNeese, Lamar and Sam Houston with just HBU remaining. This will wrap up our live updates from today but there's lots of new material to go over before the season so expect plenty of football updates in the days and weeks ahead.

We'll be back this weekend with a new episode of the Purple Lights podcast where we'll discuss some revelations today, plus Richard and I will reveal our personal SLC preseason poll.

As always, shoot us your questions at @SFASawmill and be prepared to cheer loudly at Homer Bryce Stadium in less than two months.

3:10 PM -

Lots of informative stuff from Conque in a one-on-one conversation. Some highlights:

Redshirting quarterback Zach Smith is not a sure thing by any means. If he walks into fall camp and outplays the competition, it's not inconceivable that he plays. With that said, I get the feeling that it's probably unlikely. We could definitely see a situation at quarterback a lot like Joe Minden and Zach Conque had in the early part of Clint's inaugural season at SFA with Ryan Cottingame and Jake Blumrick splitting drives. Coach Conque seems optimistic that Sawyer could return earlier than expected but it remains highly unlikely that he'll take the field in Dallas on September 2nd.

Arkansas graduate transfer Juan Day comes to SFA with two remaining years of eligibility and should be healthy enough to contribute right now. He's big, long and fast, and Conque seems confident that he's capable of helping the already deep position of running back. Conque remains very complimentary of Josh McGowen and Kijana Amous.

The SFA staff spent a lot of time reflecting after last season and delved a bit into analytics to make some difficult decisions. One of those was to go a different direction on defense. Conque explains that it was necessary to focus more on some of the spread stuff that teams are throwing at them now while remaining versatile enough to revert to even-man fronts against run heavy teams. In short, SFA gave up way too many big plays last year. There were times where the defense was okay - good even - if you think back to that early season win in Lake Charles. But a defense that emphasizes cutting off the over-the-top passes was the goal and Conque found his man for that in Jeff Byrd.

There are a number of true freshmen that have been very impressive so far in what the staff has seen. It's hard to point to any one in particular that has a chance to contribute immediately with redshirt decisions still more than a month away, but some names that were thrown out: tight end Allen Arclies (a big personnel need right now), defensive backs Trenton Gordon, Eli Jones, Caleb Lawton, and offensive lineman Jimmy Price.

2:08 PM -

SFA will be going to the smaller interview rooms after this so we'll probably miss the next couple sessions (McNeese, maybe Lamar). Should be able to get a little more in depth with Conque on some outstanding questions entering the season, though.

2:07 PM -

Tamrick Pace on the Battle of the Piney Woods: "It didn't go the way we wanted last year. But we'll be ready this time."

2:06 PM -

Clint Conque is on the set. Sounds very optimistic and excited for the season despite some remaining health issues - at quarterback and offensive line.

Conque talked specifically of self reflection after a season a year ago where they expected to contend and fell apart late. Together with AD Robert Hill, they've changed the player development program in the offseason. "We expect to do better," he says. "We expect every year to be a contender in this league and in the conversation for postseason play."

SFA returns 14 starters from a year ago which is a very good number. The Lumberjacks had the talent to contend in 2016 but a number of factors, mostly injury, partly inconsistent play, led to a hard fall off after a promising start. The new defensive scheme, led by former UT Martin defensive coordinator Jeff Byrd, is going to be a huge factor in how far this team can go this year.

As mentioned before, 5th place feels fair and they were picked 6th. Conque seems to think there's an opportunity, despite a brutal early schedule, to contend anyway.

Just remember, there are only 10 seniors on this team. This is Conque's fourth season but defensive coordinator's first and offensive coordinator's second. Somehow, this team has remained very young over these last few years. "Our expectations don't change," Conque says. Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State, etc, be damned. SFA wants to win right now.

1:34 PM -

You almost get the feeling here that there are three levels of teams here today. The top tier, Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas, feel untouchable if you listen to the discussions around this event today. That next level seems to be up for some debate but definitely includes McNeese and Southeastern and possibly Nicholls and SFA.

Our SLC preview that will be out early next week will probably pick SFA in fifth place. It's a particularly strong year overall for the league and even if this is the best SFA team in the Clint Conque era, it might not be better than Sam, UCA, McNeese, and SELA.

It's going to be a very, very hard year to make big moves in the league for anyone in 2017. You get the feeling that if SFA can keep this team together for another year, the 2018 'Jacks could be a legitimate SLC title contender. This year, playoffs of any kind, has to be the ultimate goal.

1:21 PM -

Southeastern Louisiana head coach Ron Roberts is up and the rest of the room is trying desperately to stay awake after a decidedly heavy catered lunch. ESPN3 is live once again and there are six schools to go today.

Southeastern is a mystery this season in large part because of quarterback play. SELA has been a really good defensive team for years but on the scoring side of the ball, it's never really a sure thing. They like to run. A lot. That's a good thing against teams (like SFA this year) that have shifted defensive priority to defending the pass against a spread.

It's not good when you have passers unable to complete more than 14 passes on average per game. Despite the futility of their passing offense, SELA finished 3rd in the league last year with a 7-2 record and rolled all over SFA in their 2016 meeting. The Lumberjacks do not face the Lions in 2017.

Despite having to play both Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State, Roberts says he "expect[s] this team to compete for a conference championship" this season. Could it happen? Definitely. Will it? Meh.

1:11 PM -

We're just over a half hour away from Stephen F. Austin head coach Clint Conque taking the stage along with athletes Tamrick Pace and Lamont Alexander. When the main portion of their programming is finished (and while McNeese is on the ESPN3 broadcast) they'll be in the local interview room where further questions will be asked.

We'll hopefully get some answers on the quarterback situation and the plan sans-Foster Sawyer, as well as details on the new defensive scheme, expectations for the 2017 season and thoughts on the running backs without Loren Easly.

11:52 AM -

Break time in Houston. We'll be back with more a little bit later. Southeastern Louisiana starts the afternoon session at 1:15 and SFA will follow at 1:45.

11:45 AM -

More shots at the last guy. When he looked at last season's tape, ACU wasn't a "tough football program, mentally or physically," says Dorrel. You have to respect the candid demeanor. Definitely not the cliched praise of his predecessor like most in his shoes probably would.

Dorrel isn't shy about his belief that they hit a "home run" this recruiting cycle. I had some conversations with some Abilene people who thought they were being overlooked. So I asked, but Dorrel doesn't agree. "[8th place] is about where I expected," he says about the preseason poll.

There's a lot of brutal honesty in these 15 minutes. He's not over-selling the team, not afraid to indirectly criticize the last staff, and speak highly of his own. I could see people either loving or hating this man in a couple years.

11:35 AM -

If you spell UCA backwards it's ACU. First year Abilene Christian coach Adam Dorrel is up now as the morning session prepares to wrap up. Lots of starters returning and a chance to really out-perform expectations.

Dorrel is a straight shooter. "We've been very deficient in our academics as a football program," he says. Of course, as a first year head coach that's a shot at the last guy. He's talking about his season-ticket sales and how they've quadrupled from last year. That's not a huge surprise with the new stadium but still a big deal in the league.

11:19 AM -

Campbell is still going but this is a good time to point out that ACU is coming up next. SFA will join them in Abilene to christen their brand new beautiful stadium on September 23rd. The Wildcats are a newcomer to the league and maybe don't have the natural rivalries other teams have enjoyed for years, but there's been a conscious effort on the part of their fans to make SFA the villain there.

We saw it last year with the student-led Twitter campaigns and that will add to (I'm sure) a great environment for that game. Games in Abilene to this point have not been anything special to watch. Students never cared enough to show up for football games across town, but even if it's just for the one event, expect the new on-campus facility to be rocking that day. ACU was picked 8th but they're loaded with FBS transfers and are an easy pick to outperform expectations.

11:07 AM -

Campbell accurately points out that even with the returning starters, some key pieces are missing. Central Arkansas mostly did it with defense and that outstanding defensive line is missing some big parts from a year ago. If there's any regression, look at run defense to potentially be an opening for some teams.

Then again, their continuity elsewhere, should make up the difference. UCA returns all five starters on their offensive line and that's huuuuuge. It's going to be scary to try to stop them and it's not far fetched to think nobody (but Sam) can. Circle that September 30th meeting between the Bearkats and Bears. It's early in the season but it might be the SLC championship game.

11:03 AM -

From the bottom to near the top. Central Arkansas, the runner up finisher in the poll (with two first place votes), is led by head coach Steve Campbell. Of course, UCA is where Clint Conque spent nearly a decade and Campbell is his direct successor where he's definitely kept the winning thing alive in Conway.

Last year they rolled through almost everyone. They beat SFA 34-14 and return 18 starters in 2017. If anyone unseats Sam Houston State, this might be the one. The Lumberjacks will face them in Conway on the 14th of October in what will be a huge and telling matchup between Conque and his former squad.

Campbell's optimism is contagious. "We have a lot to be excited about." 

Yes you do, Coach.

10:53 AM -

"The intensity is an all-time high," says NSU senior Dannie Harmon of their battle with SFA for Chief Caddo. "It's probably one of the best games to play in."

Otay then.

10:48 AM -

J.D. Almond is representing Northwestern State as one of two student-athletes on the set. His job as the starting quarterback is anything but a guarantee though. He made just three starts in 2016 while battling an illness and he has only six starts in his collegiate career; but he's also the most experienced passer on the team.

The biggest story of Northwestern State's preseason will probably be that battle for quarterback and there is definitely an upside to starting a younger player during a season they probably won't be legitimately contending. Coach Thomas is very much coaching for his job this season and winning is a must, though. Who they start on Day 1 might be a big indicator of how lofty their goals are for this 2017 season with so many new faces.

10:40 AM -

Head coach of the Demons, Jay Thomas, now speaking. Defensive coordinator was an outside hire and we would expect a different look on that side of the ball. New offensive leader is the promoted quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator and their pro-style will likely remain similar.

"We have a long ways to go, obviously," Thomas says on the state of the program. He points out the great spring season and some highlights of the team. The Demons were winless in the SLC last year and so it can't realistically get much worse but the roster will look very, very different this fall with transfers and incoming freshman. Who knows what to expect - a mystery with so many new players, really - but probably not a contender in 2017.

10:32 AM -

From 11th to 10th place in the preseason polls and Northwestern State who has struggled badly the last few years with injuries and depth issues. They're probably the only team that can really relate to the mess SFA dealt with as far as starters lost for the season.

SFA will play them in the final regular season game (as is traditional in the Battle for Chief Caddo) in Natchitoches. The two teams have traded wins the last few years with the home team claiming every meeting since 2011. SFA will look to change the fortune of the road team this year, like they did in '11, with a win in hostile territory.

College ADs and SIDs agree on one thing though: Northwestern State probably won't be a super formidable foe. They're definitely a program in rebuilding mode with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

10:12 AM -

Short opening statement from Coach Kennan and already to questions.

"Amazing difference in talent level," he says in response to a question about how far UIW has come in the last seven years. He's really talking up the league and questioning where the wins are on their schedule, opening the first three weeks. He said their goal was to be a good DI team, but we're hearing a lot about the more realistic expectations now. "We need to win and we expect to win," but making good men is more important, he says.

No coach is going to stand in front of his peers and the league media and say he doesn't expect to win. Realistically, 11th probably isn't an unfair place to rank them. If you read between the lines, Coach Kennan doesn't seem to think so either.

10:04 AM -

Incarnate Word head coach Larry Kennan now front-and-center. Cardinals are picked dead-last in the league in their first season of postseason eligibility. SFA beat them 42-19 in San Antonio in 2016 and will open the conference season in Nacogdoches against them in 2017.

Incarnate Word has been without a school president and an athletic director for almost a year. Coach Kennan says that should change shortly. "Six years ago when we took over the program we were a bad DII team. This year our goal is to be a good DI team." Dismisses the last-place preseason pick: "Someone has to be picked last...we're a much improved team."

9:52 AM -

9:43 AM -

Nicholls State head coach Tim Rebowe is on the stage. Again, the Colonels are probably the biggest surprise (if you can call it that) in the Southland Conference preseason poll.

We'll have to wait and see what SFA has produced as far as introductory videos  - we'll see a bit after lunch - but if Nicholls' is any indication of what we'll see today from most teams, the quality leaves something to be desired. Hell, we'll just rank them at the end of the day.

Coach Rebowe is explaining their offseason. Talks up "small" but talented recruiting class. "We don't have the luxury of being able to pay for everyone be here for summer school," he says, but this summer is a record for him as far as players working out over these preseason months. A candid comment and probably one applies to most (if not all) of the programs represented here today. They have some improvements including new turf and a new video board in the works so money is coming from somewhere, though.

A reporter asks about how Rebowe has turned the program around. His answer is typical coach-speak - nothing of substance - but the job he's done over the last couple years is unmistakably phenomenal. That program looked forever dead against DI competition not long ago. I have no idea if they'll actually finish 5th, but they're a legitimate football team now. If you've followed the Southland for a few years, you know this: that's an incredible statement.

9:19 AM -

Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett is speaking now as the preseason poll is unveiled for the first time:

Sam Houston State, as most expected, will be the league favorite entering the fall season with nearly all of their offensive players returning to Huntsville. Stephen F. Austin is picked 6th, the same place they finished in the 2016 regular season.

No major surprises besides Nicholls - did anyone expect this to ever be a potential top five team just a couple years ago? The Colonels made strides last year for sure and the optimism that they'll continue their upward trajectory is clear. The full poll results are:

1. Sam Houston State (20)
2. Central Arkansas (2)
3. McNeese
4. Southeastern Louisiana
5. Nicholls
6. Stephen F. Austin
7. Lamar
8. Abilene Christian
9. Houston Baptist
10. Northwestern State
11. Incarnate Word