WBB: American Southwest Conference

McM93 · February 26, 2007, 10:14:15 AM

I bet HPU has all that worked out since they have hosted a playoff game before, we hope!!!

Bench Coach · February 26, 2007, 10:31:19 AM

It was said that people were disappointed in McMs fan turn out, from what I saw there were quit a few fans there. From what I saw also...they were cramed into a little portion of the gym. I understand home court advantage, but come on let's be a little reasonable. The HPU fans got all of the first row of stands but 2 or 3 little sections, they were behind every backboard, and they were almost on the court. I believe that when the other teams were there and the HPU fans where not there, the HPU admin. was making the other fans get away from the court. I know that isn't what won and loss games, but I think things could have been a little more equal. Oh and the toilet paper issue....several of the restrooms were out and they were using paper towels, but those ran out too. I know you can't please everyone and it takes a lot host a tournament, but I believe there could have been a little better seating for the visiting teams' fans.
On HSU not getting in, I believe that they had a better year and they might have got the shaft. I also think that since they didn't get in, it helped to split up the tournament and that they are going to fly out, instead of going back to bwood and having to play HPU.....again. I am sorry HSU....but let's go LIB!!!

Rick Akins · February 26, 2007, 10:32:12 AM

I am also HPU75 but am too stupid to get back in under that name. I don't know about the toilet paper--the men's restrooms were fine!!--although I must admit they are way too old--but I do know things will change as far as the floor is concerned for the tourney. WOW--WHAT A GREAT BRACKET FOR OUR HPU TEAM. I think we derserve it, but still--Wow! Of course, I am delighted we do not have to face HSU and MCM
for the fourth time in a month the first weekend.

Of course HSU deserved to get from a best teams point of view, but the certainly unfair(as far as finding the best 63 teams) QOWI put them at risk as has been pointed out by others smarter than I am. However, even D3hoops expert projections had them in. Of course, selfishly, 4th games against HSU and MCM would have been brutal and difficult for HPU--and really all the ASC teams.

Ralph, in the interest of full disclosure, based on your earlier commments about anonymity, my name is Rick Akins as you know. I am an HPU grad--class of 1975-and I live in Salado, Texas. I won' t say anything here I would not say in person to anyone. By the way, I do not agree with your posts last night about the HPU/MCM game yesterday, but I will save that for another time. I was there.

Ralph Turner · February 26, 2007, 10:38:59 AM

Quote from: umhbcrufan16 on February 26, 2007, 10:32:12 AM
I am also HPU75 but am too stupid to get back in under that name. I don't know about the toilet paper--the men's restrooms were fine!!--although I must admit they are way too old--but I do know things will change as far as the floor is concerned for the tourney. WOW--WHAT A GREAT BRACKET FOR OUR HPU TEAM. I think we derserve it, but still--Wow! Of course, I am delighted we do not have to face HSU and MCM
for the fourth time in a month the first weekend.

Of course HSU deserved to get from a best teams point of view, but the certainly unfair(as far as finding the best 63 teams) QOWI put them at risk as has been pointed out by others smarter than I am. However, even D3hoops expert projections had them in. Of course, selfishly, 4th games against HSU and MCM would have been brutal and difficult for HPU--and really all the ASC teams.

Ralph, in the interest of full disclosure, based on your earlier commments about anonymity, my name is Rick Akins as you know. I am an HPU grad--class of 1975-and I live in Salado, Texas. I won' t say anything here I would not say in person to anyone. By the way, I do not agree with your posts last night about the HPU/MCM game yesterday, but I will save that for another time. I was there.

Rick, there are a lot of women posters and readers on thee boards who are saying...

"Yeah there was plenty of TP in your restrooms, because you men don't use TP!"

Pat said on the front that HSU was the last team knocked off. The Southwestern loss (or any other win including splitting the season series with HPU, so McMUrry could have had an ASC-WEst Co-Championship

) did it.

I want to thank the NCAA for splitting McM and HPU.

McM93 · February 26, 2007, 10:40:53 AM

Quote from: Bench Coach on February 26, 2007, 10:31:19 AM
It was said that people were disappointed in McMs fan turn out, from what I saw there were quit a few fans there. From what I saw also...they were cramed into a little portion of the gym. I understand home court advantage, but come on let's be a little reasonable. The HPU fans got all of the first row of stands but 2 or 3 little sections, they were behind every backboard, and they were almost on the court. I believe that when the other teams were there and the HPU fans where not there, the HPU admin. was making the other fans get away from the court. I know that isn't what won and loss games, but I think things could have been a little more equal. Oh and the toilet paper issue....several of the restrooms were out and they were using paper towels, but those ran out too. I know you can't please everyone and it takes a lot host a tournament, but I believe there could have been a little better seating for the visiting teams' fans.
On HSU not getting in, I believe that they had a better year and they might have got the shaft. I also think that since they didn't get in, it helped to split up the tournament and that they are going to fly out, instead of going back to bwood and having to play HPU.....again. I am sorry HSU....but let's go LIB!!!

As I saw the seating was first come first serve except behind the teams benches. The turnout was bad. The first game at HPU had a great student turnout and they sat right behind one of the goals and behind HPU's bench. HPU did a great job of promoting and filling the stands with their fans. Anyway, this is a great bracket, just will be tough for us to fly out and back within a small window and play to our capabilities.

Rick Akins · February 26, 2007, 10:49:37 AM

I understand the whining about the HPU students only near the court on Sunday, but that will change in the ncaa tourney, but in the MCM/ETBU game the MCM students were just as close--next to the court but not on it.

As far as the other seating--come on!! It is open seating and all the MCM fans I saw were together behind the MCM bench, and many were in the lower tier. There were still plenty of empty seats in this place--i can't help it if 80%+ of the people were HPU fans.

I was in the top corner and I saw where everyone was. The next time the tourney is in Kimbrell I am sure much of the end zone seats will be reserved for the other teams!

McM93 · February 26, 2007, 10:53:33 AM

Understand that I am not whining about, I think it is what home court advantage is supposed to be. If it was in Abilene it would be the same way.

Bench Coach · February 26, 2007, 10:54:22 AM

I was there too and the Mcm fans were cramming in places and standing because there wasn't enough seats provided for the visitors. You were in the top corner, exactly, I saw were they were too. I can whine all I want about the sitting because I was one of the ones that was crammed into the little space because I was supporting my team.

dballa · February 26, 2007, 10:58:04 AM

The coliseum has 4,500 seats and the attendance was 3,850 which at least 200 or so were on the floor. So that leaves around 800 to 900 seats around the coliseum. If you were crammed into a little spot it was because that is where you chose to sit not because of a lack of seating.

Rick Akins · February 26, 2007, 10:59:29 AM

Ralph:

As I said, I also want to thank the NCAA for splitting HPU and MCM up!! I am grateful, but amazed nonetheless!! I am not a woman, but I will see what I can find out about the restrooms. 3850 people do not help, but that is still indefensible. While as far as everyone else is concerned that is HPU's problem--and I understand why people feel that way--if I am not confused theColiseum/Mausoluem is owned and operated by the City. Having said that, HPU needs to insist not the greatest environment be made as least tolerable.

McM93 · February 26, 2007, 11:03:33 AM

Quote from: Bench Coach on February 26, 2007, 10:54:22 AM
I was there too and the Mcm fans were cramming in places and standing because there wasn't enough seats provided for the visitors. You were in the top corner, exactly, I saw were they were too. I can whine all I want about the sitting because I was one of the ones that was crammed into the little space because I was supporting my team.

Don't we in Abilene, just rope off the section behind the teams bench for opposing fans? Now that is crammed. The atmosphere was great for the weekend. Just wish outcome was more favorable.

mcmfan · February 26, 2007, 11:09:13 AM

There were lots of empty seats in the top reaches of the stadium away from the court. The controversy is over availability of seats close in, where fans can make themselves heard to support their team. I was in the section right above the McM team, and even here there were HPU fans (and even some HSU ones). There was one sign on the back stairway which no one was using that said "visitors' seating." There could have been much better signage to mark off who gets to sit where, in the stands themselves rather than on a back staircase. I think we at McM and, yes, even our arch rivals at HSU (!!) do a better job of reserving quality space for opponents than has been done at the Mausoleum.

dballa · February 26, 2007, 11:14:36 AM

I heard all 3,500 HPU fans pretty easily from where I sit. You make it sound like we play in the American Airlines Center. The coliseum isn't that big and you can be heard all over the place.

As far as reserving seats at McM, go into the gym and look at the bleachers behind the visitors bench. If they've replaced them since I last sat there then great but if not I don't believe you can call that quality seating.

McM93 · February 26, 2007, 11:15:35 AM

Quote from: mcmfan on February 26, 2007, 11:09:13 AM
There were lots of empty seats in the top reaches of the stadium away from the court. The controversy is over availability of seats close in, where fans can make themselves heard to support their team. I was in the section right above the McM team, and even here there were HPU fans (and even some HSU ones). There was one sign on the back stairway which no one was using that said "visitors' seating." There could have been much better signage to mark off who gets to sit where, in the stands themselves rather than on a back staircase. I think we at McM and, yes, even our arch rivals at HSU (!!) do a better job of reserving quality space for opponents than has been done at the Mausoleum.

I guess we need to just win the west and host the tournament then. I am a McM fan and I do believe HPU did a great job of hosting. HPU is just the better team this year.

Rick Akins · February 26, 2007, 11:32:32 AM

MCM93:

Thanks for the acknowledgment. This year HPU really does have the best team in the ASC--and maybe way beyond that--I hope!! That is not to say MCM could not beat HPU if they can win the first two( and HPU wins of course) but having seen all 3 games between the two, and lots of others as well, it would definitely be an upset.