Here is the "Official" release from the Mississippi College Sports Information and Public Relations department:  http://gochoctaws.com/news/2012/9/27/ADMIN_0927123204.aspx

This may be helpful for some to fill out the final games of their schedule.  I'll get it started.

Mississippi College has September 8th and September 22nd open in 2012.  September 8th is preferable.  Home and Home for '12 and '13 available.
Mississippi College also has September 21st and September 28th open in 2013.  September 21st is preferable.

For more information, contact Norman Joseph at 601-925-3347 or njoseph@mc.edu

Whew... It looks like UMHB is playing at 1:00 p.m. this week.  I guess the board will not be as active.

In all seriousness, the Cru came into Clinton and used their stout defense and lack of mistake-making to run away from the Choctaws on Saturday night.  While MC outgained the Cru, 360-267, the Choctaws could not overcome 11 penalties and problems in the kicking game to come back against UMHB.  In the second half, the MC defense held UMHB to just 39 yards of offense and two first downs.  After Darius Wilson rushed for 136 yards in the first half, he only had two in the second half.

UMHB's offense has a lot of talent and ability.  I think when they just lined it up and ran right at the Choctaws in the first half, that's where they had their success.

In other news, MC running back Steven Knight eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark for his career on Saturday night.  After rushing for 1,333 yards in his first season in 2009, Knight missed most of the 2010 season due to injury.  It's good to have him back in the lineup.  Rushing for 2,000 yards in 19 games is a great accomplishment for anyone.

This week's game between ETBU and MC has an interesting oddity.  Neither team has won a home game in this series since 2005.  Sed Harris, Jair Stover, and the offense will be tough to stop, but the defense has had its struggles this week.  On the other hand, it could be a big night for the MC offensive unit, as well, with ETBU ranking last in total defense (401.5 ypg) and next-to-last in scoring defense (35.2 ppg).

Sounds like a "He-Said/He-Said" situation.

A note from the MC side about the start time of the game on Saturday between MC and UMHB.  In the American Southwest Conference 2011-12 Handbook the Football Operating Code states:

2.2 - Game Time:  The host team will determine game start times through the second Saturday in October.  Starting the third Saturday in October, game start times will be 1:00 p.m. or an alternate time by mutual agreement.
   2.2.1 - Exception:  Institutions conducting Homecoming on or after the third Saturday in October shall be permitted to establish the game start time no later than 6:00 p.m.

I have not heard anything (either way) about an agreement last year to play at 1:00 p.m. this season.  According to the rules, the decision is justified.

Hardin-Simmons did not have a lot to say about the 6:00 p.m. start time.  They have to travel at least far, if not further. 

I agree that the bus rides are terrible in this conference, but who has longer trips than Mississippi College or Sul Ross State.

Another request I would like to make is that everyone please spell the MC mascot correctly.  It is "Choctaws".  There is no "k".

Looking at the actual game, I know that the players for UMHB will not even remotely let this get into their heads.  They have been the standard by which the rest of the ASC teams have been measured since they entered the conference.  They do not need a late start time as motivation.

Figuartively, of course? 

Who are the broadcasters for UMHB?  Anybody know?

MC had some freshmen step up in the Hardin-Simmons upset.  At the end of the first half, one of our rookies picked off a pass with under a minute to go at the MC 20 and returned it to the HSU 12 to set up a TD and give MC a 21-14 lead at the break.  MC would score the next 17 points in the 3rd quarter and build a lead they would not relinquish.  Steven Knight rushed for 181 yards and 3 TD.  Also caught four passes for 44 yards and a score.  This is the first game this year that the team has cut him loose after missing eight games last season due to injury.

Hardin-Simmons has a good team.  Their defense is stronger than the 45 points allowed.  Turnovers put them in tough spots.  Jay Wise is one of the top defensive backs in the league.  Made several big plays on Saturday.  If the offense can get rolling, they have a shot to get rolling, as well.  I look for Zach Stewart to get some more snaps for the Cowboys.  He was impressive in the late going.

It will be a big test this weekend in Pineville when MC and LC meet in the non-Texas Bowl.  This is the most wide open I have seen the conference in my 10 years at MC.  There are 5 or 6 teams with legitimate shots at winning the league, IMO.

Big weekend coming up with HSU-UMHB and MC-LC on the schedule.  It stands as almost an elimination game for the Cowboys in only Week 4.  ETBU and McM also face off.

MC pounded out 18 hits and scored in six of nine innings to down UTT on Friday night.  Scott Trousdale came out of the bullpen to strike out 10 over 5.2 innings.  It was only the second time this season UTT has allowed double-digits in runs with the other coming against UT-Dallas.  Shane Bennett went 4-5 with a home run as four different Choctaws finished with at least three hits and three RBI.  Chad Sherman of UTT took his first loss of the season, allowing nine runs (only 4 ER) over 6.0 innings.  Sherman does not look to be 100%, and it will be interesting to see how he fares as the season goes along.  With this being Tyler's last conference series, I'm sure he will get some time to heal up before the conference tournament.  Bad news for the rest of the league!

No, Ralph.  If MC beats Louisiana College on Monday night in Clinton, the Choctaws would go as the #4 seed from the East Division.  The two teams would be tied with 10-10 conference records and the tie-breaker would go to record against Division teams in descending order.  MC beat UT-Dallas back on January 20th, 79-68, while the Comets beat LC both times.  The winner of Monday night's game will get into the tournament.

Quote from: JACKET84 on February 18, 2011, 03:21:22 PM
HPU would clinch the #1 Seed with a win against HSU tomorrow, not #2.

Sorry, that's what I meant.

Tournament Scenario

East Division
1.  Louisiana College (22-1, 18-1 ASC) - Clinched #1 Seed (@ MC, 02/21)
2.  Texas-Dallas (19-5, 15-4 ASC) - Clinched #2 Seed (vs. LeTourneau, 02/19)
3.  Mississippi College (16-7, 11-7 ASC) - Clinched #3 Seed (@ ETBU, 02/19; vs. :LC, 02/21)
T-4.  Ozarks (13-11, 9-10 ASC) - Need Win over Texas-Tyler to clinch #4 Seed (vs. UTT, 02/19)
T-4.  Texas-Tyler (11-13, 9-10 ASC) - Need Win over Ozarks to clinch #4 Seed (@ Ozarks, 02/19)
6.  East Texas Baptist (8-15, 6-13 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
7.  LeTourneau (2-22, 1-18 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention

West Division
1.  Hardin-Simmons (18-5, 15-5 ASC) - Clinch #1 Seed with win over Howard Payne (@ HPU, 02/19)
2.  Howard Payne (17-7, 14-6 ASC) - Clinch #2 Seed with win over Hardin-Simmons (vs. HSU, 02/19)
3.  McMurry (15-9, 13-7 ASC) - Clinch #3 Seed with win over Sul Ross State (@ SRSU, 02/19)
T-4.  Mary Hardin-Baylor (15-9, 12-8 ASC) - Clinch #4 Seed with win over Texas Lutheran (vs. TLU, 02/19)
T-4.  Concordia Texas (13-10, 12-8 ASC) - Clinch #4 Seed with win over Schreiner and UMHB loss against Texas Lutheran (vs. Schreiner, 02/19)
6.  Texas Lutheran (8-16, 7-13 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
7.  Schreiner (5-19, 3-16 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
8.  Sul Ross State (1-22, 1-18 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention

Tournament Scenarios

East Division
1.  Texas-Dallas (19-5, 15-4 ASC) - Clinched #1 Seed (vs. LeTourneau, 02/19)
2.  East Texas Baptist (16-8, 12-7 ASC) - Clinched #2 Seed (vs. MC, 02/19)
T-3.  Louisiana College (11-12, 10-9 ASC) - Need win over Mississippi College to Clinch ASC Tournament berth (@ MC, 02/21)
T-3.  Texas-Tyler (11-13, 10-9 ASC) - Need win over Ozarks OR Need Mississippi College Win over Louisiana College to Clinch ASC Tournament Berth (@ Ozarks, 02/19)
5.  Mississippi College (12-11, 9-9 ASC) - Need Win over ETBU and loss by Texas-Tyler against Ozarks OR win over Louisiana College to Clinch ASC Tournament Berth (@ ETBU, 02/19; vs. LC, 02/21)
6.  Ozarks (6-18, 3-16 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
7.  LeTourneau (3-21, 2-17 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention

West Division
1.  McMurry (17-7, 15-5 ASC) - Clinched #1 Seed (@ SRSU, 02/19)
2.  Mary Hardin-Baylor (18-6, 14-6 ASC) - Clinched ASC Tournament Berth; Clinch #2 Seed with Win over Texas Lutheran (vs. TLU, 02/19)
3.  Hardin-Simmons (15-9, 14-6 ASC) - Clinched ASC Tournament Berth; Clinch #2 Seed with Win over Howard Payne AND UMHB loss against Texas Lutheran (@ HPU, 02/19)
4.  Concordia Texas (14-10, 12-8 ASC) - Clinched #4 Seed (vs. Schreiner, 02/19)
5.  Texas Lutheran (11-12, 10-10 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
6.  Sul Ross State (9-14, 8-12 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
7.  Schreiner (10-14, 8-12 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention
8.  Howard Payne (5-19, 4-16 ASC) - Eliminated from ASC Tournament Contention

The Mississippi College - UT-Dallas basketball games scheduled for Thursday night in Richardson have been moved to Monday, February 14th at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  The Mississippi College bus hit the road this morning shortly after 9:30 a.m. headed West, got to Shreveport, and realized it was much too dangerous to take the players and coaches the rest of the way.  The bus headed back to Clinton and got back home around 4:30 p.m.  The interesting thing is, the UT-Dallas campus was closed for the second straight day.

The MC games set for Saturday at the Univ. of the Ozarks are still on schedule.  However, with the snow in Arkansas over the previous weeks, I would not consider that a sure thing.

2011 Mississippi College Baseball Media Guide Released.  http://gochoctaws.com/news/2011/1/31/MTRK_0131113115.aspx