Oklahoma City -- Southern Nazarene University, in nearby Bethany, is a Division II NCAA football school, competing in the Great American Conference (GAC).
Head football coach Dustin Hada is upbeat about the coming year.
Hada elevated James Love (who had served as a graduate assistant) to a full-time Assistant Coach position this summer.
The SNU athletic website pointed out: "In each of their last two seasons, Southern Nazarene has set new DII program records for wins in a season. Last year, the Crimson Storm earned their first bowl game berth in the DII era."
( https://snuathletics.com/news/2024/6/27/james-love-promoted-to-full-time-assistant-football-coach.aspx )
In a few words, the “Crimson Storm” had an up-and-down 2023 football season -- yet in the "big picture" context for the SNU football program, it was a hopeful campaign.
The Storm had only two wins combined with four losses at home -- yet secured a strong record of 4-1 on the road.
The 2023 Season – Ups and Downs, hopes for 2024
As a result they finished with a 6-6 record -- ending the year with a 55-22 defeat to Emporia State University Hornets (of Kansas) at CNB&T Stadium in Corscana, Texas on December 2. The two squads competed in the Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl.
On the last day of August (2023), the SNU Storm began the season at home with a 53-29 loss at the hands of Harding University (of Searcy, Arkansas). But that was followed by dramatic 38-31 victory -- thanks to a fourth-quarter rally -- over Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
The Storm then traveled to Alva, to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma State. Carrying a wining record back to Bethany, they defeated the Southwestern State Bulldogs (from Weatherford), 41-7. Still at home the next week, SNU lost 28-21 to Southern Arkansas.
The lads went east again, to Arkadelphia on October 7, losing to Henderson State 42-28. Arguably the most heart-breaking home loss followed the next week in Bethany, a 20-19 shortfall against Southeastern Oklahoma.
On October 21, Storm spirits soared after 27-13 win (in Ada) over East Central. Home field frustrations returned in 49-23 loss to Quachita Baptist at SNU Stadium.
All that set the state for a two-game win streak -- 41-14 over Arkansas-Monticello, then a gratifying 49-21 victory over the Oklahoma Baptist Bison before an appreciative Bethany crowd.
This year’s schedule offers challenges for the SNU Storm
Southern Nazarene opens the 2024 campaign on the road in Arkansas, at Harding University in Searcy -- a Thursday, September 5 7 p.m. game.
The Storm then have the comforts of home (SNU Stadium) for two weeks, welcoming Arkansas Tech at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14; then Northwestern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m.
Then comes two weeks away from the west Oklahoma City metro. First comes a Sat. Sept.28 6 p.m. game in Weatherford against the Southwestern State Bulldogs, then an October 5 weekend at Magnolia against Southern Arkansas.
All the foregoing is a prelude to a home-and-away sequence of games. Home on October 12 at 2 p.m. against Henderson State, then to Durant versus Southeastern State (also at 2 p.m.)
Southern Naz then hosts East Central on Oct. 26 for another 2 p.m. joust, then it's back to the "Land of Opportunity" to take on Quachita Baptist in Arkadelphia for a 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 twilight match-up.
After that weekday game, the Storm get a couple of days extra to prepare for a 2 p.m. home game where they will welcome Arkansas-Montelicello, on Saturday, November 16, again at 2 p.m.
Terra Deupree, director of business and finance for SNU Athletics, told CityNewsOKC that "walk-up" ticket purchases on home game days are most convenient for supporters, with efforts under way to help patrons avoid transaction fees.
According to the SNU website, the Football Stadium is located on Northwest 50 Street in Bethany, "just west of Council Road on the corner of” N.W. 50 and N. Stinchcomb Avenue. Of interest, “The football practice fields and indoor facility are also located on the stadium grounds."
https://snuathletics.com/facilities/snu-football-stadium/1
McGuigan’s historical sketch of Southern Nazarene University
Teaching and learning in the School of Theology and Ministry at Southern Nazarene University is grounded in and shaped by the statement of faith in the sixteen Articles of Faith of the Church of the Nazarene. The church developed from the Wesleyan tradition.
( https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/dept.htm )
Founded in 1899 as part of Texas Holiness University, what is now SNU's Oklahoma presence dates to 1906, with the founding of Beulah Heights Academy and Bible School in Oklahoma City. That soon developed into Oklahoma Holiness College, in Bethany. The name was changed to Oklahoma Nazarene College in 1918, then Bethany-Peniel College.
A diverse mix of faith-based institutions (and the Nazarene Church itself, for the Southwest United States) eventually became centered in Bethany. In 1955, the combined institutions were named Bethany Nazarene College. The institution became known as Southern Nazarene University in 1985.
The campus, which this reporter has visited often since his childhood, has always been among the most beautiful in Oklahoma. The central campus area, including "Commons & Conference Services" is touted on the SNU website as among "the most functional and beautiful student center[s] in the state."
( https://www.snu.edu/snu-life/commons-conference-services/ )
Bethany is close-in to Oklahoma City on the west side of the metropolitan area.
Local News
Comments / 0