FB: American Southwest Conference

[dsc]

UWW
Mt Union
Stagg Bowl
Ho-hum!!!

[TxFight]

So with all of the ASC done for the season what is the proudest moment for your team, or most memorable or you get my drift?

I'll take my ETBU Tigers...There are 2 moments that stick out in my mind that show the Tigers are on the upward swing and on the cusp of doing really great things! 

The first moment would have to be the 2-minute drill ran to perfection to come-back and beat McMurry 23-21.  The Tigers were coming off a tough loss to Texas Lutheran.  They led McMurry the entire game until Mullins completed the fourth down pass to go up 21-20 with a little over 4 minutes left.  After a 3 and out by the offense, the Tiger defense stepped up and forced a 3 and out that gave the Offense the ball with just over 2 minutes left and 1 timeout.  Sophomore QB Seth Hubbard did not have an incomplete pass on the drive, and WRs Al Lewis and Raefe Jenkins had 2 big 3rd down catches, the last of which was down to the 3 yard line which set up Peddicords game winner.  It would have been very easy for the Tigers to throw in the towel after falling behind 21-20.  Instead all three phases stepped up and made huge plays to give the Tigers the victory.  I myself thought this could have been a season defining that was going to propel the Tigers into a dog fight for the conference championship.  Instead they suffered 2 tough losses to Hardin Simmons and Louisiana College which brings me to my other memorable moment of the season.

After two tough losses mentally for ETBU to Hardin Simmons and Louisiana College ETBU looked like it was heading for another 3-7ish season.  It would have been terribly easy for ETBU to just go through the motions and not give their best effort the rest of the way and finish 3-7 again.  Instead, I saw an ETBU team get hot and win 3 of their last 4, and give UMHB quite possibly their stiffest test of the regular season.  You could just see a difference when ETBU stepped on the field those last 4 games compared to years past in that they were still fighting no matter whether they had any championship hopes or not.  The best sight may have been how the Tigers handled their loss to UMHB.  Instead of being "proud" that they took the conference champs to Overtime, they were genuinely upset that they did not win that game.  There was no "solace" that they played UMHB tough.  They felt like they should have won and were more talented, which is the first step in overtaking the big dogs is knowing that you belong on the same field as them. 

ETBU definitely ended the season on a high note and feel very optimistic about their chances next year.  The Tigers will return 16 starters next year (17 if you count both QBs) which may be more than any team in the conference.  I personally can't wait to see what next year's Tigers have in store.  It will be interesting to see who the Tigers play in non-conference to prepare them for the gauntlet stretch in their schedule (vs HSU, @ LC, vs MC, @ UMHB).  Can next August get here already!?!?!

[Ralph Turner]

Good points.  

So much of football is learning how to win, and the teams below the "top 2" have plenty of lessons still in the books...

I was frustrated with the ETBU game versus Redlands, especially after the road win at UW-LaCrosse.  You had a game advantage and home field advantage and couldn't pull that game off.

Your comments about the ETBU-UMHB game make me think that the conference got much better thru the first 5-6 teams.  For the bottom three Mississippi College just lost too much, but should bounce back.  Sul Ross State almost beat D-2 Western New Mexico.  HPU lost to a weaker Trinity in OT.

TLU is much better.  Austin College (20-14 winners over TLU) had a game advantage on them when TLU opened versus the Roos.  TLU came back and beat Trinity later in the season.

We shall see if Louisiana College can reload.

McMurry will have 2 full years in the Air Raid Offense/3-3-5 Defense.

HSU should reload, and I think that UMHB should be better than they were this year.

I don't think that this UMHB team was as good as previous UMHB teams, but rather that conference was so much stronger.

[umhb2001]

Congratulations Dustin Davis, "one of seven" UMHB players to earn AFCA All-America honors! You deserve it.

http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2010/12/14/71036

Koby Parker of HSU is also mentioned. Great job guys. Way to rep the ASC!

[umhb2001]

umhb2001  -- Seems to me the attitude you display in all your recent posts are hardly worthy or consistent with the "upward call."

Sorry Baddog.

As I said in the post, that is why I continue to press forward because I know I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. That is why I need someone better than I to press on towards. May we all do that this Christmas.

It is interesting though, that others I have spoken to in passing, me not even bringing up my frustration, shared the same feelings I had. I never said they were immature or judged them.

My goal on this board is to talk football and support the Cru. My recent posts say otherwise about me, I see, and I am sorry for that. Judge me if you want, that is fine, but know that I can only say sorry so many times. I'm done speaking on this thread. Next subject please.

[Ralph Turner]

A question for our esteemed posters...

I was reading in the Gospel of Luke, third chapter, first verse about Lysanius, tetrarch of Abilene.

Who has succeeded Lysanius, Toby Taff?  Is that now Coach Burleson?

Merry Christmas!   

[umhb2001]

Not sure if I'll be able to catch the game on Saturday. It's my anniversary and we'll be spending our 11th year together in Houston going to see "Burn the Floor," a broadway style "Dancing with the Stars." I guess once again I'll pull for UWW as they are on our side of the bracket.

Should be a great game. Good luck to both teams, safe travels, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

[dsc]

Congratulations Dustin Davis, "one of seven" UMHB players to earn AFCA All-America honors! You deserve it.

http://www.tdtnews.com/story/2010/12/14/71036

Koby Parker of HSU is also mentioned. Great job guys. Way to rep the ASC!

Yes, Congratulations to Dustin Davis, "one of seven" UMHB players and Koby Parker, "one of 92" HSU All-Americans since joing the ASC, and the ONLY junior on the Offensive side of the ball!!!

We are proud of you and you represent the conference well!
Now back to the HSU---McM Basketball game!
Go Cowgirls and Go Cowboys!!!!!!

[bleedpurple]

Not sure if I'll be able to catch the game on Saturday. It's my anniversary and we'll be spending our 11th year together in Houston going to see "Burn the Floor," a broadway style "Dancing with the Stars." I guess once again I'll pull for UWW as they are on our side of the bracket.

Should be a great game. Good luck to both teams, safe travels, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Congratulations on your 11th, umhb2001! 

[umhb2001]

Not sure if I'll be able to catch the game on Saturday. It's my anniversary and we'll be spending our 11th year together in Houston going to see "Burn the Floor," a broadway style "Dancing with the Stars." I guess once again I'll pull for UWW as they are on our side of the bracket.

Should be a great game. Good luck to both teams, safe travels, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Congratulations on your 11th, umhb2001! 

Thank you much! It's been a great, up and down, blessed 11 years!

[TxFight]

Ralph it was definitely a year with frustrating moments for the Tigers.  The Redlands game being the first.  Four trips into the redzone resulting in a FG in the first half was brutal to watch.  It appeared the Tigers thought they had arrived with their road victory of UW Lacrosse.  I still don't think the better team won that game.

Lets not even talk about the TLU game, that was the biggest letdown from a fan stand point in a long time.  They had every opportunity in the world and then some to win that game and just didn't make the plays when it mattered. 

The HSU game was another learning opportunity for the Tigers.  They jumped out to the early 10-0 lead for most of the first quarter and even answered HSU's first TD to make it 17-7.  Then HSU rolled off TDs on like 5 straight possessions.  It almost looked like ETBU thought HSU was going to go down without much fight after ETBU came out swinging.  ETBU delivered the first blow, but had no answer when HSU finally stopped the bleeding and then started punching back.

The LC game the Tigers just didn't make enough plays.  At times they showed signs of brilliance and at times they looked like the team that lost to TLU. 

I've already discussed the UMHB game, the Tigers were on the cusp of something great there and just couldn't finish the deal, but they did show great signs of improvement when they fought back in the 3rd quarter after UMHB came out swinging in the 2nd half.

As for the rest of the conference, each team is going to have some big question marks heading into the season.  Has the rest of the conference closed the gap on UMHB and HSU or was this year just a fluke?  I'm inclined to say that the middle echelon of the ASC (LC, MC, ETBU, McMurry) are all on the brink of breaking the stranglehold at the top.

[dsc]

"As for the rest of the conference, each team is going to have some big question marks heading into the season.  Has the rest of the conference closed the gap on UMHB and HSU or was this year just a fluke?  I'm inclined to say that the middle echelon of the ASC (LC, MC, ETBU, McMurry) are all on the brink of breaking the stranglehold at the top."  Quote by TxFight

I've enjoyed reading your analysis...and I tend to agree with your comment above.  That is good...for then the ASC can compete against other conferences at all levels...and it makes the conference champion a better team in the playoffs.  (We need more teams in the South = more playoff games there too!

I think HSU has some good players returning, but many are leaving.  Plus, the Cowboys have a new coach, although he has been there a while...assisting and recruiting...hopefully the change will be minimal.  IMHO, however, HSU will miss Coach Keeling...the coaches, players, fans...all loved and respected him!

[roocru]

Not sure if I'll be able to catch the game on Saturday. It's my anniversary and we'll be spending our 11th year together in Houston going to see "Burn the Floor," a broadway style "Dancing with the Stars." I guess once again I'll pull for UWW as they are on our side of the bracket.

Should be a great game. Good luck to both teams, safe travels, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Congratulations on your 11th, umhb2001! 

Thank you much! It's been a great, up and down, blessed 11 years!

Here's a Happy Anniversary and +k from me as well!

[crufootball]

Interesting information on the new mascot for McMurry.

http://www.mcm.edu/newsite/web/univ_relations/mascot_search.htm

My vote is for War Horses.

[umhb2001]

Not sure if I'll be able to catch the game on Saturday. It's my anniversary and we'll be spending our 11th year together in Houston going to see "Burn the Floor," a broadway style "Dancing with the Stars." I guess once again I'll pull for UWW as they are on our side of the bracket.

Should be a great game. Good luck to both teams, safe travels, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Congratulations on your 11th, umhb2001! 

Thank you much! It's been a great, up and down, blessed 11 years!

Here's a Happy Anniversary and +k from me as well!

Thank you much, RC, it will be great! I hope everyone has a great weekend as well and an amazing Christmas break.