FB: American Southwest Conference

[GillCJ1]

Here's UMHB Saturday's game notes...


http://cruathletics.com/documents/2015/9/3//Game_Notes_OWU_2015.pdf?id=969

Good stuff.  Thanks for posting.

[DFWCrufan]

I was going to watch the Belhaven/ Milsaps game but sorry I will not pay to see milsaps play online, very few teams are out there that that I am willing to spend money to watch online and milsaps is not on that list. Sad, it makes sense to live stream if your a d3 school, that is alot of advertisement for your program and if you do it right for your school.

[crufootball]

I was going to watch the Belhaven/ Milsaps game but sorry I will not pay to see milsaps play onine, very few teams are that that I am willing to spend money to watch online and milsaps is not on that list. Sad, it makes sence to live stream if your a d3 school, that is alot of advertisement for your program and if you do it right for your school.

Agreed, I definitely would pay to see my team pay but with so much other options I can't see many people paying for the right to see the game. According to the stats though its the same ole Air Raid with Belhaven attempting 41 passes...in the first half. Also they are currently losing 18-16.

[BlazeofGlory]

I went to the Belhaven/Millsaps game. Belhaven is going to struggle this year, but they might be one of the national leaders in total offense.

The Good/Bad/Ugly from both teams in a game that was 18-16 at halftime and 52-23 final.

First, Belhaven

The Good
Lots of attrition from last year's team, but its the Air Raid offense, you just plug holes. A redshirt freshman QB that can sling it, but he made some redshirt freshman mistakes. He threw three interceptions, but only one was his fault (other two were tipped balls). He took some bad sacks trying to make something happen. Anyway, Belhaven's offense is going to put up yards.

The Bad
Hal Mumme isn't known for his defenses. Let's just say that. Really rough looking defensively. They gave up 91 points to a team last year, MHB may get close to that. I think the Mississippi heat will show Whitewater down next week, so I actually don't expect them to put up a ridiculous number, but MHB will be able to drop 70. They might give up 35, but they will not have trouble scoring on this defense.

The Ugly
Turnovers and Penalties. Officially, Belhaven had six. Including two dropped kickoffs that let Millsaps start inside the Belhaven 10. Unofficially, add four more, as Mumme went for it on 4th down inside Belhaven territory four times and was stopped. The game was 18-16 at halftime. If not for those two fumbled kickoffs and lining up offsides on a missed FG that became a TD, Belhaven could have been up 17-0 or 21-0 at half. That's not hyperbole. Millsaps could not do anything in the first half. In the third quarter, they got things going and it became the rout that it was.

For Millsaps ..

The Good
A solid win to open the season over a rival from across the street. Millsaps is no where close to the playoff teams they had a few years ago, but they are improved from their 3-8 team last year. Millsaps' defense held their own, and as mentioned - made some big stops on 3rd and 4th down on a high powered offense. A freshman QB that had never taken a college snap came in the second quarter and played a good game. (12-19, 122 yards, 3 TD)

The Bad
Millsaps relies heavily on their passing game, and it just wasn't there. Belhaven's defense was bad, and allowed their running game to gain traction. But don't be fooled by the numbers. Belhaven's front 7 might be the worst Millsaps will face. I'm not sold on their offense.

The Ugly
Four missed extra points and two missed field goals (although one was given back because of a penalty). The feeling in the air was that it was going to cost them the game last night until Belhaven fell apart in the 3rd Quarter. It will cost them down the road.

Final Thoughts
Neither one of these teams are playoff contenders. Millsaps may scratch to five or six wins. Belhaven is going to have a rough go at it. They have two, three games on their schedule that are even possible to win. Whitewater troubles will be with the Mississippi heat and not Belhaven next week in the Blazers' Division III home opener (Props to Belhaven for going in strong, at least). But if the Blazers can pick up 3 or 4 wins, it has to be a positive for year one.

[Kelly Boggs]

Thanks for info, Blaze. Good stuff.

[GillCJ1]

Great notes, BlazeofGlory.  Thanks and welcome!

Kelly Boggs - my wife's uncle will be at the UMHB/OWU game.  In fact, he's traveling on the same flight with the football team today (even though he has no official affiliation, other than being an alumnus and former faculty member).  You may know him.  His name is David Guess.  Anyways, he loves to talk football and mingle with other fans, so you just might run into him at the game.

[crufootball]

I went to the Belhaven/Millsaps game. Belhaven is going to struggle this year, but they might be one of the national leaders in total offense.

The Good/Bad/Ugly from both teams in a game that was 18-16 at halftime and 52-23 final.

First, Belhaven

The Good
Lots of attrition from last year's team, but its the Air Raid offense, you just plug holes. A redshirt freshman QB that can sling it, but he made some redshirt freshman mistakes. He threw three interceptions, but only one was his fault (other two were tipped balls). He took some bad sacks trying to make something happen. Anyway, Belhaven's offense is going to put up yards.

The Bad
Hal Mumme isn't known for his defenses. Let's just say that. Really rough looking defensively. They gave up 91 points to a team last year, MHB may get close to that. I think the Mississippi heat will show Whitewater down next week, so I actually don't expect them to put up a ridiculous number, but MHB will be able to drop 70. They might give up 35, but they will not have trouble scoring on this defense.

The Ugly
Turnovers and Penalties. Officially, Belhaven had six. Including two dropped kickoffs that let Millsaps start inside the Belhaven 10. Unofficially, add four more, as Mumme went for it on 4th down inside Belhaven territory four times and was stopped. The game was 18-16 at halftime. If not for those two fumbled kickoffs and lining up offsides on a missed FG that became a TD, Belhaven could have been up 17-0 or 21-0 at half. That's not hyperbole. Millsaps could not do anything in the first half. In the third quarter, they got things going and it became the rout that it was.

For Millsaps ..

The Good
A solid win to open the season over a rival from across the street. Millsaps is no where close to the playoff teams they had a few years ago, but they are improved from their 3-8 team last year. Millsaps' defense held their own, and as mentioned - made some big stops on 3rd and 4th down on a high powered offense. A freshman QB that had never taken a college snap came in the second quarter and played a good game. (12-19, 122 yards, 3 TD)

The Bad
Millsaps relies heavily on their passing game, and it just wasn't there. Belhaven's defense was bad, and allowed their running game to gain traction. But don't be fooled by the numbers. Belhaven's front 7 might be the worst Millsaps will face. I'm not sold on their offense.

The Ugly
Four missed extra points and two missed field goals (although one was given back because of a penalty). The feeling in the air was that it was going to cost them the game last night until Belhaven fell apart in the 3rd Quarter. It will cost them down the road.

Final Thoughts
Neither one of these teams are playoff contenders. Millsaps may scratch to five or six wins. Belhaven is going to have a rough go at it. They have two, three games on their schedule that are even possible to win. Whitewater troubles will be with the Mississippi heat and not Belhaven next week in the Blazers' Division III home opener (Props to Belhaven for going in strong, at least). But if the Blazers can pick up 3 or 4 wins, it has to be a positive for year one.

Wow, welcome aboard BlazeofGlory and thanks for the break down. Depending on how long Mumme stays it is going to interesting to see what he can do with the Blazers. He pushed McMurry fairly quickly to a point where they were a legit threat to beat anyone they played.

[Kelly Boggs]

GillCJ1,

I not only attend UMHB the same time as David, a friend of mine and I even roomed with him one semester. We lived in an apartment in Temple. I believe it was the semester just before David and Becky were married.

Small world!

[GillCJ1]

GillCJ1,

I not only attend UMHB the same time as David, a friend of mine and I even roomed with him one semester. We lived in an apartment in Temple. I believe it was the semester just before David and Becky were married.

Small world!

Ha!  Small world, indeed.  Well, he and Becky will both be there.  Hope y'all enjoy the game.

[BlazeofGlory]

The biggest difference I see in Mumme at McMurry and Mumme at Belhaven is the style of offenses that the high schools play. In Texas, you can pluck kids out and plug them into the Air Raid pretty easily. Mississippi high schools are I-formation run the ball 40 times a game types. Mississippi also needs to be educated on Division III. There's a lot of kids that would be good D3 players that have a "D1 or nothing" attitude. Quite simply, they'd rather go be a frat boy at Ole Miss than play Division III football at Millsaps or Belhaven.

Belhaven has always underachieved, in my opinion. They are a solid school academically (24 average ACT), they have commitment to athletics (Will soon be building what could be a top five Division III football facility), and now the NCAA prestige will help them. With no real Division III powers in the Gulf South, Belhaven could be that team. But so could Millsaps, or Mississippi College when they were Division III.

Like I said, at the end of the season, you'll probably find Belhaven at the top of the total offense charts, but no where near the Top 25. Got to make a commitment to playing defense at least at a middle of the pack level.

[BlazeofGlory]

Here are some photos from last night that some of you might enjoy. Great support from both teams.







The schools are only two blocks from each other. Traditionally, the teams march from one campus to the other, led by band, cheerleaders and followed by student body.

[GillCJ1]

Great pics.  I always enjoy learning about pre-game rituals and festivities - especially when the 2 schools are rivals and so close in proximity.

Welcome to the ASC!

[crufootball]

The biggest difference I see in Mumme at McMurry and Mumme at Belhaven is the style of offenses that the high schools play. In Texas, you can pluck kids out and plug them into the Air Raid pretty easily. Mississippi high schools are I-formation run the ball 40 times a game types. Mississippi also needs to be educated on Division III. There's a lot of kids that would be good D3 players that have a "D1 or nothing" attitude. Quite simply, they'd rather go be a frat boy at Ole Miss than play Division III football at Millsaps or Belhaven.

Belhaven has always underachieved, in my opinion. They are a solid school academically (24 average ACT), they have commitment to athletics (Will soon be building what could be a top five Division III football facility), and now the NCAA prestige will help them. With no real Division III powers in the Gulf South, Belhaven could be that team. But so could Millsaps, or Mississippi College when they were Division III.

Like I said, at the end of the season, you'll probably find Belhaven at the top of the total offense charts, but no where near the Top 25. Got to make a commitment to playing defense at least at a middle of the pack level.

Glad to hear that Belhaven is putting in the effort to succeed at this level. In regards to the new football facility, I can't seem to locate any news on this, has this information been released to the general public?

[BlazeofGlory]

Not really. There's fundraising going on, and there are drawings. If you look at the Belhaven campus on Google maps, right dead in the center is an area that anyone would say "What a perfect place for a small college football stadium."

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Belhaven+University/@32.321523,-90.1724792,753m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x862832f2c5bf9065:0x456309657ce98f06!6m1!1e1

Just north of Riverside Drive, you'll see a shared 8,000-seat football stadium that Belhaven has used for most of its football existence. Its unbranded because high schools use it on Friday nights, and such. If it could be outright purchased and renovated, it would be a great facility, but that is not possible.

[Pat Coleman]

There's a lot of kids that would be good D3 players that have a "D1 or nothing" attitude. Quite simply, they'd rather go be a frat boy at Ole Miss than play Division III football at Millsaps or Belhaven.

I've heard the same about Texas, though, too -- just swap out "Ole Miss" for "UT-Austin" and the storyline is the same all the way through.