FB: American Southwest Conference

[Frank Rossi]

I have to say that the UMHB/H-S rivalry has a very special meaning to me since 2008.  I had the pleasure of announcing my first completely out-of-region game in the first week of the 2008 Playoffs when Pat Coleman asked me to venture from UMiami Law (where I was in school pursuing my LL.M. in Real Property Development & Law) before heading home for Thanksgiving to Upstate New York.

This was also my first taste of Texas football -- I remember heading into Belton to meet up with Bret Page, my color commentator, for a really great breakfast burrito.  On my way to the restaurant, I passed the UMHB campus and thought that was where the field was initially.  Bret had said he would lead the way for me -- and I was in for a surprise as we headed to a high school field that really exceeded any D3 structure I had been in, maybe with the exception of SUNY-Cortland in New York.

A couple things stand out in my head from the game.  First, the teams were out for blood on the field.  Yet, the other thing was the hospitality and charm of the fans and staffs I got to meet throughout the day.  The game was a good one (38-35 UMHB), but my memories are more of the actual atmosphere and excitement surrounding a game that probably should have been played in a later round, thanks to the NCAA's wallet-pinching.  I definitely want to head back to see this game again sometime, be it in the playoffs or otherwise.  

I point this out more because I want to let you fans who don't get to see other regions' games know you are assets to the Division III community and should be examples to many schools as to how to do it right despite the low budgets and lack of scholarships.  Best of luck to the teams, and safe travels to the fans -- enjoy the night game.  I'll be quoting the score on my live broadcast of the Rochester/Union game Saturday night in Upstate NY and sending my good thoughts in your direction.

- Frank

[Toby Taff]

Frank- Great post, and i'm glad you liked your Texas football experience.  Tiger field is a nice stadium and its great that the Cru get to play there.  I don't know if you got to watch Abilene High play Plante, Florida on ESPNU last week, but they played in Shotwell Stadium, home to Abilene High, Cooper High and Abilene Christian University football home games.  It makes BISD look considerably less impressive, but that's how Texas is with its football.

Yessir- I figured that was the case, but its usually fun when you pop in, at least until thinks get personal.

[Kelly Boggs]

LC vs MC is a crucial game for both teams. MC does not want to open  conference play 0-2. For LC to open the season 0-3 and lose its initial conference game would be tough for the Wildcats.

LC's offense has been plenty productive in its first two outings,  but the defense has been anemic. The Cats have thus far not been able to pressure QB's which has left the secondary vulnerable. Additionally, LC has had trouble against some aspects of the running game, especially runs to the outside. Special teams have also struggled, especially kick-off and punt coverage. LC needs to improve in every area defensively if they have any hope of repeating the success of the past two seasons. Hopefully, the open date has provided an opportunity for LC to make some adjustments/corrections. 

A win Saturday on the road would be a huge momentum boost for the Wildcats.   

[hsugma]

GO COWBOYS.....  BEAT CRU..........http://[color=purple][/color]

[cowboyfan]

Welcome Temporarily back Yessir. Its always great to see someone with such great intellect posting again. As for the HSU vs UMHB game i think you should be very concerned. Nice touch about most of the guys being in JR high last time HSU won though. Very funny. Because you were in JR high when HSU was wipping the floor with you year after year. Should be an exciting 2010 matchup. See you this week and again in the playoffs. Thanks NCAA.

[CruGuy]

I've got a question that might be completely unfounded, but it should certainly make for some interesting banter.

UMHB added a receiver to their team this year named Damian Davis who started his collegiate career at Oklahoma State. He's 6'5. Those two facts alone should tell us that he is in a physical class all of his own, every time he steps on a D-III football feild. Yet, while Damian Davis has been on the roster all season long, he's been noticeably missing from the depth charts and the stat log (7 players have receptions for the Cru and he's not one of them). He's also has garned almost no media attention from anyone around the Crusader program. The question one would then be led to ask is, "Why?" If I'm a coach with a new star recruit and an early season game against a highly ranked opponent, I'd certainly want the scouting report, video tape, and media register to tell my opponent as little as possible about that athlete and how we intend to use him. What if UMHB went for 2-15 in the passing game last week because the 1's spent the entire week practicing with a guy who wouldn't touch the feild last week?

The game notes for the HSU game are up on the UMHB website (http://cruathletics.com/documents/2010/9/22/Game_Notes-HSU_2010.pdf?id=144) and buried in all that is an altered two-deep. UMHB had a 6-5 receiver once before and things worked out pretty well for them...

[Toby Taff]

I've got a question that might be completely unfounded, but it should certainly make for some interesting banter.

UMHB added a receiver to their team this year named Damian Davis who started his collegiate career at Oklahoma State. He's 6'5. Those two facts alone should tell us that he is in a physical class all of his own, every time he steps on a D-III football feild. Yet, while Damian Davis has been on the roster all season long, he's been noticeably missing from the depth charts and the stat log (7 players have receptions for the Cru and he's not one of them). He's also has garned almost no media attention from anyone around the Crusader program. The question one would then be led to ask is, "Why?" If I'm a coach with a new star recruit and an early season game against a highly ranked opponent, I'd certainly want the scouting report, video tape, and media register to tell my opponent as little as possible about that athlete and how we intend to use him. What if UMHB went for 2-15 in the passing game last week because the 1's spent the entire week practicing with a guy who wouldn't touch the feild last week?

The game notes for the HSU game are up on the UMHB website (http://cruathletics.com/documents/2010/9/22/Game_Notes-HSU_2010.pdf?id=144) and buried in all that is an altered two-deep. UMHB had a 6-5 receiver once before and things worked out pretty well for them...

Davis played against McM.  He had one pass thrown to him when he was double covered and almost made the grab.  The safety came over the top and was able to strip the ball before he could get it secured.  It was a really nice play by the safety that prevented a first down.  Other than that, it looked like LD preferred the fade to Ervin.  I think he'll see more action as they work on things. 

[umhb2001]

UMHB, please listen to me, "just say no to any t-shirt for this game."  I thought it was a bad idea then, and I haven't changed my mind.  At the end of the 2004 game, many t-shirts went into the trash can outside the stadium.  Right where they needed to be. Show up, scream loud, and wear normal fan attire.  

Yeah, as soon as I showed up for the pep rally the night before the UWW game and I saw shirts, I nearly turned around and left. I didn't have a good feeling.

[umhb2001]

Well, I guess since HSU and UMHB are playing this week, there will be no banter about any other games since this board is all about two teams and little bit about McMurry.  Don't get me wrong, it is well deserved.  These have clearly been the best two teams in the league since its inception.  I'll give a little insight on one of the other games this week.  The "Non-Texas" Bowl takes place this week in Clinton when LC and MC face off at Robinson-Hale Stadium.  Since neither team is from the large state, I guess we won't have to worry about Players of the Week in this game, but there should be some fireworks after both teams combined for 98 points in Pineville last year.

LC is a dangerous team!  They are 0-2 and most people picked them to be a darkhorse to win this conference.  The great thing for them is, they still control their own destiny after a bye week last week.  I'm sure the Wildcats are hungry for their first win of the season and try to break the three-game losing streak to the Choctaws.  As a side note, since the series resumed in 2000, neither team has had a winning streak against each other of less than three games.

MC is ready to get back on the field and prove they deserved that preseason ranking they received from the pollsters.  Over the last two games, the Choctaws have turned the ball over eight times.  They got away with it in the win over Belhaven, but HSU exploited the mistakes for the win.  Steven Knight is expected to play and will team up with Austin Divinity, who has filled in with back-to-back weeks of over 80 yards on the ground.  The defense had a hiccup last week, but had only allowed a total of 37 points through the first two games.

I'm excited to see how this one turns out.  The past three seasons have seen the Choctaws jump out to leads only to see LC come back and make all three games into thrillers.  Both teams can be very explosive!

So even though neither one of these teams has a "Hardin" in its name, it should be exciting.  MC will provide live video accompanied by live stats on GameCentral.  http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/mc.portal#

Do other schools know that they can come on here and discuss the games? We talk UMHB v HSU because that is where we go/went to school. If others want to come on and discuss their game, come on, but it's hard for me to discuss a game I know little about.

I go to the WIAC board when we play up there, or to the NW board when we play there, but only when we play there.

[crufootball]

I've got a question that might be completely unfounded, but it should certainly make for some interesting banter.

UMHB added a receiver to their team this year named Damian Davis who started his collegiate career at Oklahoma State. He's 6'5. Those two facts alone should tell us that he is in a physical class all of his own, every time he steps on a D-III football feild. Yet, while Damian Davis has been on the roster all season long, he's been noticeably missing from the depth charts and the stat log (7 players have receptions for the Cru and he's not one of them). He's also has garned almost no media attention from anyone around the Crusader program. The question one would then be led to ask is, "Why?" If I'm a coach with a new star recruit and an early season game against a highly ranked opponent, I'd certainly want the scouting report, video tape, and media register to tell my opponent as little as possible about that athlete and how we intend to use him. What if UMHB went for 2-15 in the passing game last week because the 1's spent the entire week practicing with a guy who wouldn't touch the feild last week?

The game notes for the HSU game are up on the UMHB website (http://cruathletics.com/documents/2010/9/22/Game_Notes-HSU_2010.pdf?id=144) and buried in all that is an altered two-deep. UMHB had a 6-5 receiver once before and things worked out pretty well for them...

The reason why Damian has yet to make much of an impact to the team is has not been around very long. He was late addition to the team (TDT story http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2010/09/07/68455) so he is still learning the offense and the offense is learning how it can use him. However  it should be noted he played in a total of 1 play in Wisconsin but played often in Abilene so he could very well be ready to go by this weekend.

[Bill McCabe]

I've got a question that might be completely unfounded, but it should certainly make for some interesting banter.

UMHB added a receiver to their team this year named Damian Davis who started his collegiate career at Oklahoma State. He's 6'5. Those two facts alone should tell us that he is in a physical class all of his own, every time he steps on a D-III football feild. Yet, while Damian Davis has been on the roster all season long, he's been noticeably missing from the depth charts and the stat log (7 players have receptions for the Cru and he's not one of them). He's also has garned almost no media attention from anyone around the Crusader program. The question one would then be led to ask is, "Why?" If I'm a coach with a new star recruit and an early season game against a highly ranked opponent, I'd certainly want the scouting report, video tape, and media register to tell my opponent as little as possible about that athlete and how we intend to use him. What if UMHB went for 2-15 in the passing game last week because the 1's spent the entire week practicing with a guy who wouldn't touch the feild last week?

The game notes for the HSU game are up on the UMHB website (http://cruathletics.com/documents/2010/9/22/Game_Notes-HSU_2010.pdf?id=144) and buried in all that is an altered two-deep. UMHB had a 6-5 receiver once before and things worked out pretty well for them...

It seemed like the QB had trouble getting the ball to any of the Cru receivers.  He will have to play much better this week.

[Bill McCabe]

This is going to be a great football weekend.  Friday night in Dallas for the TCU-SMU game and then Saturday off the the HSU-UMHB game.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, I guess since HSU and UMHB are playing this week, there will be no banter about any other games since this board is all about two teams and little bit about McMurry. 

Gotta get some more Mississippi College people here, I guess, David. Can't be just you and Chris.

[btyndall]

everyones talking about the simmons and baylor game this week and i"m sure it will be a great one but if hsu wins out and they still have to play mcm and if mcm can get away from some of the bad breaks and the defense continues to shine along with the passing threat that should be another great game. how about 3 teams sharing the lead at the end?

[roocru]

I have to say that the UMHB/H-S rivalry has a very special meaning to me since 2008.  I had the pleasure of announcing my first completely out-of-region game in the first week of the 2008 Playoffs when Pat Coleman asked me to venture from UMiami Law (where I was in school pursuing my LL.M. in Real Property Development & Law) before heading home for Thanksgiving to Upstate New York.

This was also my first taste of Texas football -- I remember heading into Belton to meet up with Bret Page, my color commentator, for a really great breakfast burrito.  On my way to the restaurant, I passed the UMHB campus and thought that was where the field was initially.  Bret had said he would lead the way for me -- and I was in for a surprise as we headed to a high school field that really exceeded any D3 structure I had been in, maybe with the exception of SUNY-Cortland in New York.

A couple things stand out in my head from the game.  First, the teams were out for blood on the field.  Yet, the other thing was the hospitality and charm of the fans and staffs I got to meet throughout the day.  The game was a good one (38-35 UMHB), but my memories are more of the actual atmosphere and excitement surrounding a game that probably should have been played in a later round, thanks to the NCAA's wallet-pinching.  I definitely want to head back to see this game again sometime, be it in the playoffs or otherwise.  

I point this out more because I want to let you fans who don't get to see other regions' games know you are assets to the Division III community and should be examples to many schools as to how to do it right despite the low budgets and lack of scholarships.  Best of luck to the teams, and safe travels to the fans -- enjoy the night game.  I'll be quoting the score on my live broadcast of the Rochester/Union game Saturday night in Upstate NY and sending my good thoughts in your direction.

- Frank

Thanks for your post Frank.  I guess now is as good a time as any for me to spread some news.  My son Bret (CruAlum39) is heavily  involved in his coaching right now (his team is currently 3-1 with a loss in overtime) and will not have the time to respond.  It appears you will have to have someone else on the Stagg Bowl interviews to take his place.  His wife and he are expecting their first child and our first grandbaby in Mid-December.   

I don't think his wife (or mine) will allow us to come!!

I hope you are doing well and I will be back to Salem next year if the creek don't rise!!  I might even try to see if the grandson can come with me!!!