The Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX) football team began its 12th season since the program’s revival in 2013 with more than the usual number of questions. Perhaps none was more glaring than the obvious one: how would the Pirates navigate the turmoil of a late coaching change at the top.
It was a half-full, half-empty kind of season for the Pirates. On the one hand, Southwestern’s record was a middling 4-6 overall, and 2-5 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). On the other hand, the program appears to be re-energized and possibly on the cusp of contending for its first NCAA Division 3 playoff berth in the not-too-distant future.
Former Head Coach Joe Austin shocked the Pirate faithful when he announced his decision to retire from coaching over the summer. Austin had built Southwestern’s football program from the ground up when the university revived football after a 63-year hiatus in 2013 and had maintained a core group of assistant coaches. One of those coaches, defensive coordinator Bill Kriesel, was named Interim Head Coach roughly a month before the opening kickoff.
The Pirates promptly went 2-0 to start the season with non-conference wins over McMurry (24-20) and University of Puget Sound (47-19). The first conference game, a 35-20 loss at Hendrix College, began a series of up and down games for Southwestern. Southwestern sprinkled wins over Rhodes College (45-22) and Sewanee (35-10) with frustrating losses at Berry College (44-7); Millsaps College (17-14); Centre College (38-28); and at Trinity University (34-7). Of those losses, the Pirates led late or were in contention into the second half in every game except for Trinity.
The finale at Texas Lutheran, a non-conference rivalry game/grudge match, was a microcosm of the season. The Pirates led 10-0 and had the football after an interception with roughly five minutes remaining in Seguin, only to give up the tying points on a late field goal and losing in overtime.
TLU, at 9-1 and SCAC Champions, earned a playoff spot with the win, joining Southwestern’s SAA conference opponents Centre, Trinity and Berry in the playoffs. Of their four games against them, the Pirates could have – perhaps should have -- won at least two if not three of them. In other words, Southwestern played largely even with playoff teams throughout the season. They’re close.
Looking ahead to 2025, Coach Kriesel – who had the “Interim” tag removed from his title before Game 9 – will embark on his first recruiting trips at the helm over the winter. Kriesel, who seemingly brought more of a fiery attitude to the team after Austin’s more quietly intense demeanor, looks to build on a solid core of young talent.
Quarterback Jaylen Spriggs (101-199, 1,291 yds., 6 TD, 10 INT; 8 rushing TDs) will likely be under center for a third season as a junior next fall. He’ll have a stable of running backs behind him, likely led by sophomore-to-be Leroy Rodriguez (142-724, 5.0 YPC, 4 TD) who shared time with senior-to-be Devan Phillips (79-285, 3.3 YPC, 2 TD) until going down late in the season. Super-frosh Caleb Harmon will look to anchor a solid Pirate defense.
No one, of course, knows what the future holds. But based on the potential noted on the 2024 Southwestern Pirates, things are looking up for 2025.
