Quote from: wally_wabash on March 14, 2025, 03:55:18 PM

Quote from: UMHB03 on March 14, 2025, 03:11:56 PM

Quote from: The Third Division on March 14, 2025, 01:45:37 PMAny bets how many scam division 4 cheeseburger universities UMHB plays this fall?

In fairness, at least those "cheeseburger universities" aren't afraid to strap on their pads and face us, unlike most of D3 outside of Whitewater. UMHB faces all comers, there just aren't many comers who have the guts to take on the challenge.

This remains an extremely narrow view on this topic.  Plenty of teams are willing to play good teams (we see it all through the month of September) and nearly all can get an equivalent competition experience for a fraction of the cost as a game in Belton.  I'm sympathetic to the problem UMHB has here, but calling everyone a chicken isn't the way. 

Perhaps, but before trolls come around making snarky remarks about the non-conference opponents UMHB is forced schedule, maybe they should give it a rest until their own school is willing take on the challenge.

Quote from: The Third Division on March 14, 2025, 01:45:37 PMAny bets how many scam division 4 cheeseburger universities UMHB plays this fall?

In fairness, at least those "cheeseburger universities" aren't afraid to strap on their pads and face us, unlike most of D3 outside of Whitewater. UMHB faces all comers, there just aren't many comers who have the guts to take on the challenge.

Has anyone heard any rumors about UMHB's 2025 football schedule? I remember it being around this time last year when we started getting some intel about the non-conference lineup. Hopefully it's a lot better this year.

Quote from: justafan12 on February 25, 2025, 01:22:05 PM

Quote from: UMHB03 on February 25, 2025, 01:04:18 PM

Quote from: justafan12 on February 25, 2025, 12:42:29 PMPardon my not knowing all the ins and outs of this but what would be wrong with UMHB going independent in football?  I guess it could be finding games at the end of the season as most schools are playing conference games then.  What are some other reasons?

No AQ, and scheduling, which is hard enough currently, would be almost impossible for all sports.

Would another conference take UMHB without football?  Football would be an independent.  Just wondering.

As far as another conference accepting UMHB for non-football sports, who knows? We are not as dominant in other sports as we are in football, so I guess it would be possible IF the motivation for the non-Baptist schools avoiding UMHB is fear of competition rather than philosophical/political intolerance. However, it's a moot point because football independence couldn't work, as UMHB has a hard time finding four D3 non-conference opponents, much less a filling a full, 10 game schedule.

Quote from: justafan12 on February 25, 2025, 12:42:29 PMPardon my not knowing all the ins and outs of this but what would be wrong with UMHB going independent in football?  I guess it could be finding games at the end of the season as most schools are playing conference games then.  What are some other reasons?

No AQ, and scheduling, which is hard enough currently, would be almost impossible for all sports.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on February 21, 2025, 04:12:44 PMUW-W will visit Belton on September 20.

Nice. Always a fun mini-rivalry.

Quote from: Mavchamp on February 15, 2025, 02:40:22 PM

Quote from: UMHB03 on February 14, 2025, 08:09:43 PMThe ASC is definitely on life support, and the time is rapidly approaching to pull the plug. There just don't appear to be any remaining options to save it, sadly.

It's becoming painfully clear that the Baptist Four's days in D3 are numbered, and each school needs to accept that fact and start weighing whether their respective futures lie in NAIA, D2, or in the case of UMHB and HSU, possibly FCS.

I agree 100%.  I actually hate that we have to endure another year of uncertainty and not knowing.

Just rip the band-aid off.  Get it over it.

I'll be happy if we end up in NAIA.  Sooner for football.  RRAC for other sports.  The crowds will likely be better because of the close proximity of the schools.  Would be a fun environment for most sports.  But sure....I'd prefer D3 over the NAIA.

I'd be happy with another D3 conference.  Seems like a real long shot at the moment though.  SCIAC?  USA South?  CCS?  Maybe a whole new D3 conference that doesn't even exist right now.  Whatever.  Bring it on.

I'd be happy with D2....particularly if its the GAC.  The LSC makes zero geographical sense for ETBU.  The GAC is less travel than the ASC was.  But.... small fish in a big pond (albeit a smaller pond than the LSC).

FCS isn't happening for ETBU or HPU.  I wish HSU and UMHB the best in it though.

I'm honestly not sure what I prefer for UMHB. Despite the unfair treatment we receive in playoff seedings most years, I really like D3, and part of me would like to maintain the "big fish/small pond" dynamic that we've had here for the last 15+ years. That would require a move to NAIA, but I don't think that's likely.

Another part of me would like to see UMHB challenge itself more by moving to a higher division, even though that would likely result in more seasons like 2023 (fewer wins and no playoffs) than we're accustomed to.

It will be interesting to watch and see how things unfold, so hopefully all the schools stop prolonging the inevitable and make a decision soon.

Quote from: Mavchamp on February 13, 2025, 11:41:23 PMNo doubt the SCAC is in better shape than the ASC is concerning stability....but only marginally.

The ASC is finding out no one wants to join the conference.....

The SCAC could also be on shaky ground because it has multiple schools that have a histories of conference shopping/bouncing.

That could prove problematic for them. 

The SCAC isn't a conference of 10 programs that has tons of wiggle room for schools jumping ship.

It would only take 1-2 to put them on high alert.

While the ASC needs 2 more just to survive...... the SCAC also needs 2-3 more to give themselves some security.  The ASC is on life support.  But the SCAC isn't exactly on solid ground (yet) either.

JMHO.
 

The ASC is definitely on life support, and the time is rapidly approaching to pull the plug. There just don't appear to be any remaining options to save it, sadly.

It's becoming painfully clear that the Baptist Four's days in D3 are numbered, and each school needs to accept that fact and start weighing whether their respective futures lie in NAIA, D2, or in the case of UMHB and HSU, possibly FCS.

Solid improvement from the Crusader team this year, particularly toward the end of the season.

A couple of personnel priorities that they need to address if we are going to continue work our way back to the Stagg Bowl:

1. Go find some mean, nasty, road grading offensive linemen. The guys we had this year are big, but they are soft and get pushed around way too much for guys their size.

2. Scour the portal for some explosive WRs. UMHB has solid role players at the position, but it has been sorely missing guys who can score from anywhere on the field ever since KJ Miller and Aaron Sims left. Without the ability to score on big plays, the offense is forced to methodically drive the field, leaving little room for error, and they are still too undisciplined and mistake prone to do that consistently.

3. Find a stud QB (easier said than done, I know). Wright is not a bad player, but I'm also not convinced he is a championship caliber player. We don't currently have a King/Hammack/Jackson type player on this team, and we're not going to get over the hump without one.

Otherwise, they have a defense and RB stable that are capable of winning a championship. Make a few upgrades and I think the Crusaders will be a contender in 2025.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on December 10, 2024, 09:04:24 AMAccording to a Xitter post from RedditCFB, one of UMHB's 2024 opponents, John Melvin, will no longer sponsor football (I didn't find any other confirmation but only looked at their website):

https://x.com/redditcfb/status/1865976501184893063

Seems like they barely sponsored football before.

Lots of missed opportunities for the Crusaders, but credit to the team for digging deep and finding a way to win.

I though UMHB might be in for a big day, but then the secondary decided that they didn't feel like covering anyone toward the end of the first half.

Quote from: TLU05SA on November 12, 2024, 10:48:14 AMI am curious. Who would fill the head coaching position and build and maintain the program to expectations expressed on this board?

Someone who can instill a culture of discipline and effort, and bring back the swagger that this program had come to embody. Someone who learns from his mistakes and makes corrections rather than stubbornly trying to ram his way forward with the same failed approach. Someone who will be willing to run an offensive scheme that is more innovative and unpredictable than one from 1972. As far as who that would be, I don't know exactly. It's the university admin's responsibility to vet candidates and decide on the best one.

The bottom line is, UMHB provides a great college experience and the best facilities in D3, and it built a proud tradition and foundation over the past two decades under Fredenburg. It shouldn't be hard to maintain a successful program there. Yet in two short years, Harmon and his staff have taken that program almost back to square one. It might be difficult to find a coach who could maintain the kind of consistent domination that Coach Fred achieved, but it shouldn't be hard to find someone who could do better than what we've had since he left. I mean, for heaven's sake, Fredenburg left Harmon a team coming off a dominant National Championship run, and now three years later he has promptly missed the playoffs two straight seasons for the first time since 2000/2001, and has shown no signs that he has any clue how to fix things. That's absolutely unacceptable on every conceivable level.

20-3 at halftime and it might as well be 70-3.

This wretched offense couldn't score 17 points against HSU's defense in 20 more quarters, much less two.

Early on I thought the Crusaders might be on the verge of a big day. Then the team we're accustomed to seeing showed up, and the O-Line and secondary decided to take the rest of the half off.