For me personally, I hate to see Coach Sartain go.  I played for him the past 4 years, and the main reason I stuck around ETBU and did what I did so that I could play was Coach Sartain.  It would have been real easy for me to bail out after my Sophomore year and play my last 2 years somewhere else, but I would not have played for anybody besides Coach Sartain.  He is an amazing leader in not only dealing with us, but in his walk on and off the field.  I don't know what my future has in store for me, but I know that I am more prepared for it because of Coach Sartain.

I'll say this for Hardin-Simmons...they have gotten better each week.  They just came out and physically whipped ETBU Saturday.  This is an ETBU team that has played a very tough schedule to date (Wesley, Willamette, TLU and LC are the 4 losses) and its not a huge stretch to say that they could have won all of those.  Do I think HSU is better that UMHB? I can't say because I haven't seen UMHB, but I have seen HSU and they played very well against a very talented football team.

ETBU did a great job of giving themselves a chance to win considering how blahh they had played to that point.  They were constantly starting and keeping themselves backed up on their own goal line.  Penalties and a costly turnover were the difference in the ball game.  Would really have liked for ETBU to take a shot right after they had scored to make it 22-17 and forced a 3 and out and a shanked punt.  Instead ETBU ran the ball twice and lost yardage and put themselves in 3rd and long which LC was able to just pin their ears back and come after the QB.  Gotta give credit to the LC offense for making plays when they needed and the LC defense for keeping constant pressure on the QB. 

I will say this for atleast one institution in the ASC, East Texas Baptist.  The tigers are by no means afraid of playing UMHB on a yearly basis.  As an institution they are striving to reach a level of success in all sports that UMHB has achieved in football.  The institution is not just content to go .500 every year.  It wants to win and it wants to win on a big scale.  If anything UMHB has helped to make that drive, not hurt it. 

Can we get to Saturday already?!?! This conference is going to be fun to watch on a weekly basis. 

UMHB and Sul Ross-is SRSU for real?
Hardin-Simmons and MC-who can get a little momentum to start conference play?
Louisiana and Howard Payne-does LC have a letdown after a tough loss?
ETBU and TLU-which ETBU team gets off the bus?

Gonna be an exciting next 7 weeks. 

ETBU went up to Oregon and really impressed me even though the scoreboard didn't show a W.  Defensively I thought the Tigers played their tails off.  The longest TD drive for Willamette was 55 yards.  When the defense wasn't starting at midfield they played absolutely tremendously.  Folks are probably goign to say that Willamette let ETBU back in it, but ETBU had a heck of a lot more to do with it than Willamette did.  Both teams were even in the turnover category.  I felt like ETBU left 3 tds on the field.  ETBU is oh so close to putting it all together.  Closer than they have been in any year under Coach Sartain. 

Really enjoyed watching the ETBU v Willamette game last night.  Game was a lot closer than the score indicated, or at least I thought so from the ETBU point of view. I honestly think if ETBU doesn't fumble early in the 3rd quarter going inside the 5 on the screen pass then its a different result.  ETBU left 3 tds on the field IMO; that fumble and then 2 in the 1st half on both fg attempts. QB just missed an open wr on 3rd down before the 1st fg attempt and I thought they should have went for it right before half after they had put together a nice drive to get inside the 20.  If both tems eliminate the turnovers I believe they will both have a say in the conference championship. 

Quote from: roocru on September 02, 2012, 10:48:05 PM
My thoughts on the AC/TLC game;

Texas Lutheran has better talent and it showed in the end.  AC played an excellent first half and I think TLC's adjustments and physicality took over the second half.

AC has made a change in its offense and is basically running a wing-t out of a double slot and double wing formation.  According to my sources the idea is to become more physical and try some ball control to keep the defense off the field as much as possible.  This worked well the first half and AC was ahead at the half 16-10.  The secondary remains a problem due to a lack of speed but the defensive line was successful in batting away 4-6 passes.  Effort was there the entire game. I was pleased and think things are looking up!

AC is gonna get a big test in the secondary this coming up weekend.  In the Wesley game ETBU threw the ball very well in the 1st half.  2nd half Wesley started dropping 8 and ETBU never really tried to go deep on them and it resulted in the QB forcing some balls into tight windows. 

ETBU continued their Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde streak though.  Jumped out to a 2td lead and then got in their own way.  Total yardage wound up being like 321-310.  Special Teams and a huge momentum swing of a turnover sunk the ship.  Defense played very well, considering they were constantly having so so field position to work with.  Wesleys TD drives were 9, 61, 19, 57 and 57 yards.  ETBU only allowed 56 rushing yards on 28 attempts. 

Very nice season opening win for Willamette yesterday.  As an ASC guy I was shocked by how lopsided the result was.  Be interesting to see how ETBU plays you guys in 2 weeks.  They played Wesley pretty even (321-310 total yardage) just got beat by some bad special teams coverage and a costly turnover.  Hopefully ETBU can even up the record for the ASC against the NWC!

Wow did not see this one coming like this in this manner.  Thats an impressive win for Willamette

ETBU came out in typical ETBU style and went Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde against Wesley.  Jumped out 12-0 on the wolverines and then let special teams and some costly turnovers (like a fumble inside the 10 going in, interceptions at midfield) beat em.  If ETBU gets out of their own way they are going to be a tough team to play. 

Special Teams and Turnovers absolutely killed ETBU.  Wesley's first TD came on third and goal from the 10 after they returned the kickoff to the 9.  The TD that put Wesley up 21-14 came after a 50 yard punt return to the ETBU 19.  The last touchdown came after an interception at midfield.  Add in that ETBU fumbled on the 9 going in after a 10 play 70 yard drive to get it down there with the score 14-12 midway through the 2nd quarter.  That absolutely took the wind out of ETBU's sails.   It was an interesting play call to begin with because ETBU went to the wildcat (which had not been successful on the 2 or 3 times they had ran it to that point.)

ETBU came out swinging and looked mighty good.  Passing game was rolling and the defense was playing well.  If ETBU gets their special teams kinks worked out they are going to be very salty.  Also have to get better with 2nd half adjustments offensively.  Wesley made some defensive adjustments at halftime and ETBU looked like they kept trying to throw the same 3-4 pass plays. 

Good luck to the Wolverines the rest of the way!!

Right now its 60% today and 30% tomorrow as far as rain goes.  If the sun is out then I do not envy the football players Saturday.  Rain in Texas means one thing...HUMIDITY!  You walk outside for 10 seconds and you'll be drenched in sweat.

ETBU takes a bus everywhere they go except for 1 plane trip a year.  This year they are flying to Oregon.  They bus trip to Sul Ross State has to be miserable.  What I have heard is that they leave at midnight on Thursday and get into Alpine around 6 in the evening.  Obviously that is stopping to eat and practice at some point.  But still that cannot be fun. 

well it appears I may have spoke too soon...Saturday could have sloppy field conditions thanks to Isaac.  We've know got 80% chance of rain Thursday in Marshall which is not a good thing for a grass field with a game that weekend.