Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 05, 2007, 12:11:16 AM
...(I will post my thoughts on the Best ASC teams later on this season.)... 

Mr. Turner,

Did you ever post your thoughts on the Best ASC teams, or did I miss it somewhere along the way?   

Quote from: JACKET84 on March 31, 2008, 11:34:03 AM

Was it just me, or did anyone else at the ceremony want to laugh when our mayor got up and spoke and gave the proclamation?  Unless my mind is completely gone, I never remember him attending any HPU basketball games.  I find him to be quiet humorous.  At this last years HPU Homecoming parade, he wore his UT cap.

As a matter of fact I did laugh, but I normally do whenever I here him give a speech. 

I'm so focused, even before the game begins,   I don't notice many folks, other than the regulars that I sit near.  The mayor isn't one of these.

If he didn't come to any of the games  , or for anyone else that didn't, it was their loss.

Hey golfniz1, I can certainly appreciate your enthusiasm.
 
Best ever?  We'll have to leave that to the historians. 

However, there are few things that can't be argued.  Such as, forever this team will be remembered as the ASC's first National Champion in any team sport!  Others may come, very soon I hope, but this year's team will forever be the first.  To go undefeated, also puts this team in a very elite group, for sure, in any sport.

A great team, leaving behind a great legacy, and great memories, and outstanding individuals carrying forward a bright future!  Does it get any better than that, and really does it need to?

What an exciting day for the Howard Payne University faithful!  The parade, and ensuing celebration, in typical Baptist fashion, which included food and fellowship, was an outstanding tribute to the "Perfect Swarm".  Thank you Derrick Stuckly – Brownwood Bulletin sports writer – for coining that phrase.  The day included a proclamation by the State of Texas, the pronouncement of March 29th as "Lady Jacket Day" by the City of Brownwood, a little roasting of Coach K, and some very nice speeches by other dignitaries, including the university's beloved Chancellor, Dr. Don Newbury, Coach K, Meia Daniels, and Dallas Huston.  Rick Adkins, congratulations for being presented with an autographed basketball from Coach K.  The kids and I had to go through the line, but my daughter got the final team member signature she needed on her basketball, and the rest of the family got autographed pictures as well.

So many memorable moments today, to add to the multitude already accumulated this season and really over the past several years.  Notable moments today, included the 33 blue and gold flags that semi-circled today's events on campus.  That was a lot of flags, and then to realize that each one represented a winning game this season, helped to emphasize just how special a season this truly was.  Dallas Huston – the voice of the Lady Jackets radio broadcasts – summed it up best I think in stating that this may very well be the best team we'll ever see in our lifetimes.  This, coming from a man who has seen some really great teams, including several Gordon Wood era Brownwood High School football teams, over an impressive career of his own, speaks volumes about this year's Lady Jacket's success.  However, no one will soon forget that the freshman class is undefeated, and that the sophomore class is an amazing 61 – 2, mainly, because they won't let you.  Isn't that right coach?  Also, seniors, what a way to end a fabulous college career.  As you graduate, always know that you have a host of folks cheering for you, as you move from one stage in life and into another.  Some that you know very well, but many that you'll never know by name, but will never forget you.

From all of the wonderful comments made at today's events, my favorite came from Coach K himself, when he talked about what it takes to win a national championship.  While continually giving all of the praise and acknowledgement to his team and to the abilities and hard work of his players and staff, he capped it off this way, "When ya' got...ya' got!"

Congratulations 2007-2008 Lady Jackets, Coach K, Coach Hatfield and trainers.  You've definitely got it...and as a result, in the end, you got to experience it all.  I'm just grateful to have been able to share the ride.  It's been fun! 

Quote from: mytwocents on March 27, 2008, 04:59:14 PM
Just thought some HP faithfull would appreciate the read. Again Congrats you have a very special team this year.

Article on Messiah's memorable run by Falcons assistant athletics director for PR & Marketing, Cory Furman.

http://www.messiah.edu/athletics/womens_basketball/2007-08/stories/Mar_26.html

Very Nice.  Thanks for sharing. 

Congratulations to the HPU and LC men's basketball teams, coaches and fans for being awarded the ASC Sportmanship Awards for Winter Sports in each division.

With some of the not so pleasant happenings at some of the ASC games this season, it is nice to see recognition for positive sportmanship.  Great job!

Hats off to UMHB and LeTourneau women's teams, coaches and fans for the same.

http://www.ascsports.org/Pdfs/gen/2008/3/26/WinterSAACSportsmanship0708.pdf

Congratulations to the UMHB and LeTourneau women's basketball teams, coaches, and fans for being awarded the ASC Sportsmanship Awards for Winter Sports.

Hats off to HPU and LC men as well, for the same.

http://www.ascsports.org/Pdfs/gen/2008/3/26/WinterSAACSportsmanship0708.pdf

If HPU had to play Messiah 3 more times this season, twice at home, and once in Messiah, IMHO Messiah would have learned from HPU just like McM did, and would have played HPU much closer in those games.  Until a team matched up against it, I don't think they could fully appreciate how good "swarm" zone defense HPU plays.  I know that I would not want HPU to have to face Nikki Lobach again, after she's had an opportunity to get familiar with the players and the defense.  As such, I believe Messiah was a better team than McM, and well deserving of the #3 final ranking.

I'd also say if Meia Daniels was prepared for tournament play by Amber Horton's and Brown's defense, which I would.  I'd also say Amber Horton and Brown became better defenders for McM, as a result of facing the DIII Player of the Year more times than any other players in the country this season.  You can't help but become very familiar with each other, playing as often as these two teams have (12 times over the past 4 years, of which, by the way, HPU won 10 of the 12, with an average margin of victory of 13 points per game).

Without a doubt, the ASC as a whole helped set the stage for HPU's road to the National Championship.  Not just this year, but for the past several years, and the final results speak for themselves.

Some interesting notes about the legacy of the four HPU Lady Jacket seniors.

Over the past four seasons, HPU won an astonishing 109 games and incurred only 12 losses.  Of the 12 losses, the point difference in 9 of the losses was 6 points or less, of which 3 games were decided by only 3 points, 1 game was decided by 2 points, and 3 games were decided by only 1 point.  The 3 remaining losses, decided on point margins greater than 6 points, included a 77-68 loss to MC in Clinton, MS – the ASC, East Champion that year, a 64-48 loss to McM in Brownwood – the ASC Conference Champion that year, and a 73-64 loss to HSU, a Final Four team that year.  In addition, over the past four years, these seniors only lost in Brownwood on 4 occasions, and never, at home, to the same team twice. 

Thank you Hope College and Holland.  You were outstanding hosts.  I met many folks, and enjoyed visiting with all of them.  You helped make a memorable weekend into an unforgetable one!

Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2008, 08:21:44 PM
Using HPU as a measuring stick, HPU is #1, Hope #2 and McMurry must be in the Top 5.

Are you sure you're using HPU as the measuring stick?  It appears McM is always your point of reference. 

Nevertheless, I absolutely agree with your assessment.

Quote from: dballa on March 24, 2008, 03:38:12 PM
That's why most of us just say Coach K

Amen to that!

Quote from: realist on March 24, 2008, 10:30:45 AM
Just curious about what any HPU fans that went to MI this past weekend thought of your experience there.  Did the "Dutch" treat you decently?
Do you know how tough it was to arrrange the snow just for you?

Beautiful community; amazing facility; and wonderful people.  Not to mention, some outstanding basketball.

Personally, I'll take a good 'ole Texas heat wave  over lake-effect snow any day, but my wife ansolutely loved seeing the snow.  I suppose it's genetic, after all before we got hitched, her last name was Vander Zee. 

Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 19, 2008, 11:30:10 PM

Quote from: Sand Man on March 19, 2008, 11:26:22 PM
First time poster.  I noticed someone indicated that Hooters serves food now    Couldn't resist joining in the discussion.  Not to mention, I've got my tickets for the final for in Holland, and I'm a little excited!   

Oh no!

History will record that your first post on the D3Sports.com message boards was about Hooters.

What will you tell your grandchildren?   

Welcome anyway! 

  Oh well...it could have been worse.

I could have blindly jumped in - right in the middle of a Coach K versus "the" Coach K debate, and had no idea what was being said, or what to say.

Thanks for the welcome anyway.

First time poster.  I noticed someone indicated that Hooters serves food now    Couldn't resist joining in the discussion.  Not to mention, I've got my tickets for the final for in Holland, and I'm a little excited!