FB: American Southwest Conference

[DFWCrufan]

Interesting 2001..Yeah I was sitting in the student section lower level. And i'd have to sort of understand that in when I was at the 2nd play off game, the guy behind me was on the phone and didn't even know who was playing and I thought.. really??? so your assessment I would say, at least from that experience was spot on.
I guess what I was seeing was a "hey we're up, and we're confident it aint gonna change soon" sort of feeling. (Not my mind by the way LC's pass game was still alive)

[Kelly Boggs]

I think I have a solution to UMHB's snap woes, put Baylor Mullins at center. Number 32 will get it done. 

I'm looking forward to Saturday at Seguin. I am ready to see The CRU put a complete game together.

UP with the PURPLE!

[zipmac22]

I agree about many of the fans. Up in the upper reserved section I almost expect to see many of the fans sitting sipping tea and eating crumpets. There seems to be a lack of spirit in the stands. When The Cru scores a touchdown I'll get up and cheer to the dismay of many around me. I don't expect a frenzy of drunken fans, but at least let them display some spirit!

[umhb2001]

Spot on Morrgen. One other thing is success. Success has bred laziness by the fans. Many alum don't come to games until the playoffs. This is because they do exactly that, they see the lead, expect to win, and check out. Heck, I've probably done it.

I don't know how to change the mood of the average fan. It needs a swift kick in the pants.

[Toby Taff]

Spot on Morrgen. One other thing is success. Success has bred laziness by the fans. Many alum don't come to games until the playoffs. This is because they do exactly that, they see the lead, expect to win, and check out. Heck, I've probably done it.

I don't know how to change the mood of the average fan. It needs a swift kick in the pants.

I must say, I was disappointed at the announced crowd. Seemed small for homecoming. That said, yesterday was a miserable day in the stands until almost half time when the shade caugt up. Would have loved a 6:00 game.

I wonder if expectation doesn't play a role. The e/pectation of the fans is pretty ridiculous right now. We're complaining about how bad a team averaging over 40 per game looks when they only when by 21 in a game that was never really in doubt. LC took 4 quarters to score what UMHB did in 1. LC ran 35 more plays and passed the ball 55 more times to gain 89 more yds through the air. I heard comments about their running game; they didn't even hit 100 yds on 29 carries. As fans maybe we need to breathe deep and appreciate what we have come to take for granted.

[DFWCrufan]

Yeah Toby I would agree with that. And I guess I have to be careful not to measure a program by it's fans, We are ravenous for the CRU but that is us and perhaps a segment of the fan base is not in the same camp (I'm also a CRU soccer fan but Video of that is well....pretty...) and there is no way to make the games from Dallas.

On the other hand, I took a perverse pleasure seeing Meloncon do his thing, I was really impressed.

[Ralph Turner]

Just an aside for Texas High School football...

This morning, the topic of conversation among my co-workers was the performances at UIL Contest by the respective bands on Saturday morning, how one band has improved over the fall and how another band has deteriorated in its performance.

School pride (and my high school football coaches would have been just as proud!)

[crufootball]

To me, fan enthusiasm is a very complex issue that is hard to measure given the success of the Cru.

While us crazies  might think that many of the UMHB faithful are too quiet, it still needs to be noted that this year we are averaging over 5000 fans per game and have consistently been one of the leaders in attendance in all of the D3. Even if they aren't being that loud, its not very hard for 5000 "quiet" people to get up if necessary.

Also while I am going to yell and scream no matter the score, UMHB has won 50 straight regular season games and 67 out of its last 68 conference games so the casual fan has almost never seen the Cru lose or for the most part even seen a game that was in doubt in the second half.

No matter what, I echo what Toby said, that this is a great problem to have for the Cru, we get to worry that the thousands of fans in arguably the best stadium in D3 are not being loud enough because the team only won by 3 touchdowns.

Either way it's time to worry about TLU, man I wish TLU Goat was still around because some good old fashioned trash talk is always fun to watch. 

[ksclegal]

UMHB will have to play better if they a want to win in Seguin this weekend. The poor special teams play by LC put them in a hole all day. TLU will be well coached and ready to play. Not saying TLU should be favored but UMHB will not be able to win this one without hitting on all cylinders.

[Kelly Boggs]

For whatever the reason UMHB went on cruise control after the 1st quarter Saturday. I think the lack of enthusiasm during the game with LC was due to the fact I don't think anyone felt The CRU was in any danger of losing the game. 

As has already been pointed out, even with a lackluster performance that included 4 turnovers, numerous bad snaps and too many flags, UMHB pretty much waltzed to a win.

Hats off to LC. Most teams would have packed it in being down 24-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Cats hung tough and kept playing.

I was at the LC vs TLU game. The Bulldogs were very fortunate to win that game. We will never know what might have transpired had the LC coach not rushed on the field at the end of the game.  I left that game feeling LC and TLU were evenly matched. It is my opinion if they played 10 times they would split evenly.   

I think Saturday's game is much bigger for TLU. It really is a playoff game for the Bulldogs. They were left out of the playoffs last year with one loss and will probably be left out again this year unless they are undefeated. I expect TLU to be sky high and ready to play.

It seems each week that UMHB has problems that crop up that need attention. The following week they are addressed and another issue crops up. The CRU dealt with its kick coverage issues quite well. LC started in a hole all day long due to the stellar coverage of UMHB. However, the snaps were an issue. I expect that will not be case on Saturday. If The CRU plays to the potential we know they possess, I believe UMHB fans will be happy come Saturday evening.

Concerning the fan issues, I remember a few years back some Mount Union fans were lamenting the lack of fan intensity at games. I will confess to visiting more this week than usual. It was homecoming and I saw friends I had not seen in years. It was hot and it was 24-0 at the end of 1st and UMHB was making it look pretty easy.

If I recall correctly, the fans were pretty in to the semifinal game with White-Water last season. I am with everyone here in that I wish the fans would be more into the games. However, when the games are not close it is hard to keep up cheering and hollering the entire quarters.

I have my tickets will be at Seguin on Saturday. I am concerned that many UMHB fans are going to make the trip and not get into the game. The TLU website indicates they shut down tickets sales at 3,500. It looks like they could accommodate quite a few more fans around the track -- Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon does this as do many others in DIII -- but that is the policy stated on the website.

CRU Nation, let's get together and let our presence be felt on Saturday!

[Ralph Turner]

As for fans standing around on a track, I can tell you how a track coach really feels about it.

McMurry's Coach Barbara Crousen, (2-time NCAA Men's Track Champion), always hated the way that "non-track" traffic and activity on the track "beat it up". The casual traffic, even from the people who were walking on the outside lanes for "lifestyle use", really takes a toll on the track.

[Ron Boerger]

Just an aside for Texas High School football...

This morning, the topic of conversation among my co-workers was the performances at UIL Contest by the respective bands on Saturday morning, how one band has improved over the fall and how another band has deteriorated in its performance.

School pride (and my high school football coaches would have been just as proud!)

My 5A alma mater, impacted by demographic shifts and then by a total reconstruction of the campus which has led many to transfer to other schools, put their little 50-piece band (including drill team/pit) out there and got there first Division I in a number of years.   

[couchcru11]

All I know is that it has been too long since I've posted and with this week's game being played up as much as it is, I cannot wait to hop on Toll 130 and leave a mark at Bulldog Stadium. I stopped by on the way home a couple weeks ago during their Homecoming and laughed at the size of the stands. The visitor's section is tiny, probably 1 section of GA at the CRUthedral. I went ahead and bought tickets online to ensure we can get in and be loud. A bonus for us is that they installed aluminum bleachers. I'm starting to have flashbacks to Tiger Field!

Anywho, hopefully Cantu is back in pads next week, he was in street clothes Saturday on the sidelines. Holmes (back up center) just hasn't been able to get the snaps consistent. Coach George was making him practice when the D was on the field. There is no doubt in my mind that TLU is going to try everything they can to stay undefeated at home and on the season, but I feel like the CRU will pull it together and rise to the occasion to get the W.

On the casual fan note, I was yelled at the first game by an older gentleman for yelling and standing too much. I sarcastically replied that "this isn't church." Consistent winning doesn't bring the rowdiness that the playoffs do and unfortunately, there won't be any changes in the near future. UMHB is regulating everything now and the rowdiness isn't being allowed like it used to at Tiger Field. All I know is that I will continue yelling and doing my duty as a young alum on game days.

This past Saturday was brutal. We jumped out to a lead and then the sun was unrelenting. I am not one to sit and not say much all game, but that heat took it out of me. Players were constantly getting electrolyte packs and fluids every time they came to the sideline. I'm sure whoever did laundry that night had a TON of towels to wash!

[Tekken]

A couple of nuggets:

Had the LC coach not run on the field in that situation, LC would have definitively lost to TLU (ten times out of ten).  There is no doubt surrounding this issue.  Their quarterback was already instructing everyone to hurry to the line very obviously to clock the ball; thus why the LC coach was so far out there.  Had he not run out there, it would have been just like Joe Montana's son's unfortunate play over the weekend.

As for them being evenly matched, that is another story, and a fair assessment of that game.

The TLU attendance cap of 3,500 is based on fire code.  There is indeed more physical space, but fire code is fire code.  I'm not sure how well UMHB fans travel, but I'm guessing there is a very good likelihood that people are turned away.  The last two games were close on attendance and had virtually non existent travel groups due to distance (Sul Ross, ETBU).  On the other hand those two games were the inaugural home game on campus and homecoming, so those two events may have inflated attendance figures as well.

[couchcru11]

The CRU travel well. We will most likely fill the visitor stands easily. I've never been to an away game that had less than 150. Plus, this is the first time in 3 years TLU has played the CRU, so it creates a little intrigue. They just need to open the fence and let the country folks park their trucks and sit on the tailgates

A couple of nuggets:

Had the LC coach not run on the field in that situation, LC would have definitively lost to TLU (ten times out of ten).  There is no doubt surrounding this issue.  Their quarterback was already instructing everyone to hurry to the line very obviously to clock the ball; thus why the LC coach was so far out there.  Had he not run out there, it would have been just like Joe Montana's son's unfortunate play over the weekend.

As for them being evenly matched, that is another story, and a fair assessment of that game.

The TLU attendance cap of 3,500 is based on fire code.  There is indeed more physical space, but fire code is fire code.  I'm not sure how well UMHB fans travel, but I'm guessing there is a very good likelihood that people are turned away.  The last two games were close on attendance and had virtually non existent travel groups due to distance (Sul Ross, ETBU).  On the other hand those two games were the inaugural home game on campus and homecoming, so those two events may have inflated attendance figures as well.