FB: American Southwest Conference

[Kelly Boggs]

I think the prospect of TJ playing QB is pretty strong.

[GillCJ1]

I think the prospect of TJ playing QB is pretty strong.

Agreed.  It will (at least initially) be a 2-man battle based on what the coaching staff has communicated.  Josey is one (for those curious, he's a Junior this year), and the other is sophomore Kyle Jones.

For the 2017 season there seems to be a position up for grabs.. QB... the Cru have alot of talent already for that slot, TJ Josey although as a receiver he is invaluable. We did see a snippet or two of Zane Boles, but he went to punter later in the season. So any thoughts from those closer to the program? Are they going to look inside the existing roster or bring in a new, minty fresh freshman and build him up?

Here is one I found...http://www.hudl.com/profile/4163770/michael-dearman    https://twitter.com/_michaeldearman

There is also an incoming frosh from the San Antonio area that sounds promising.  The Cru picked him up along with one of this OL, so that's cool.  It should be a fun year.

EDIT - I just found it (thank you, Google).  His name is Will Chaney from Alamo Heights HS.  His aforementioned OL is named Ryan Connelly.

[Kelly Boggs]

UMHB had 214 players participate the first day of practice. A report indicated "several more expected to report by the first day of classes."

[DFWCrufan]

Thanks KB for the news 214 is indeed a great showing. Does anyone know if there will be a scrimmage this Saturday? We'll be down on campus for the move in and wanted to know.

Here is an update from the 1st day report from the UMHB athletics site.
A healthy group of onlookers, including family, friends and a media contingent of three television stations, two radio stations and a newspaper on hand watched the defending Division III National Champions on Sunday. One of the biggest position battles of fall camp will consist of finding a replacement for departing starting quarterback Blake Jackson. Converted wide receiver and former reserve quarterback T.J. Josey took the bulk of the snaps with the #1 offense, but Kyle Jones and Zane Boles also saw plenty of time.

Here is a video report from Coach Fred... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnSyXjcgNXg

[Kelly Boggs]

The CRU has an exhibition game/scrimmage scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 6 pm.

Here is an awesome tour of UMHB's Crusader Stadium, aka The CRUthedral: http://krock1017fm.com/a-tour-of-crusader-stadium/

[DFWCrufan]

Thanks KB for the video, great walk through of the CRUthedral. So a new playing surface and a National Champs marker for the 2016 Season is being inaugurated on opening day! Sounds like Opening Day is going to be one for the record books, I plan on being there. everyone else? My first born is in her senior year so I still have one more excuse to travel down to the campus.

[DFWCrufan]

ETBU New Surface installed... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7VgGbtfYkM

[DFWCrufan]

Mc Murry First day in pads Vid... http://www.mcmurrysports.com/news/2017/8/14/general-video-from-mcm-football-first-day-with-pads.aspx

Howard Payne Football vids for new season 2017 ... http://www.hpusports.com/index.aspx?tab=football&path=football

Sul Ross State FB arrives    http://www.srlobos.com/index.aspx?path=football&&tab=0

TLU Camp Photo Gallery ... http://www.tlubulldogs.com/news/2017/8/13/photo-gallery-tlu-football-practice-day-1.aspx

[Ralph Turner]

McM's Wright Selected for Prestigious "Watch List" for Placekickers



CHICAGO, Ill. – McMurry University sophomore Tanner Wright (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.) has been named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award Kick Off Watch List, it has been announced by the organization. The "Watch List" recognizes 36 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field during the 2016 season and for continued community service during their off-season.



The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award) is provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams. The breakdown of the 2017 pre-season list is as follows:
•Collegiate Division – 7 FCS, 12 Division II, 11 Division III, 2 NAIA, and 4 NJCAA
•State – the place-kickers play at schools located in 23 different states (AL, AR, CA (2), CT, GA, IL (3), IN (2), KS (4), KY, MA (2), MD, MI (2), MN, MS, NJ, NY, OR, PA, SC (2), SD, TN (2), TX (2), and WI (2))
•Year – 14 Seniors, 10 Juniors, 11 Sophomores, and 1 Freshman



"I am looking forward to the 2017 college football season with much anticipation as another group of outstanding candidates for our annual national kicking award display their talents on and off the field," Mitchell said. "We have had a number of previous winners and Top 10 finalists kick in the NFL and the Canadian Football League. More importantly, members of our esteemed selection committee are proud of the community-minded young men that are recognized and continue to make positive contributions throughout the country." 



The Award's Selection Committee Chairman Rob Perry added, "The quality of person that the Fred Mitchell Award continues to attract and celebrate remains high.  We're all very excited to see the on and off-field accomplishments of the fine young men on this list throughout the 2017 season and beyond."



The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community.



As a freshman, Wright tied the McM school single-game record by going 9-for-9 on extra-point kicks versus Texas College. He led the McMurry team in scoring with 59 points and has an on-going school record of 35-consecutive PAT kicks made (he went 35-for-35 in 2016) .



Wright was a second-team All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) and first team All-National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) selection as a freshman. He went 8-for-10 in field goals and averaged 58.3 yards per kick on 51 kickoff attempts in 2016, as well.



Wright is also a Paralympic athlete, suffering from a condition called Arthrogryposis, which shrunk his joints when he was in the womb and his left arm did not fully develop, and he has gone through minor issues with his ribcage and left leg, as well. He earned a gold medal in the 200 meters and a silver in the 100 meters at the 2017 U.S. Paralympic National Championships and was selected to represent the United States at the World Para Athletics Championships in London last July (placing fourth in both the 100 and 200, and running on the 4x100 relay). He also competed in six events to help McM men's track & field team win the 2017 ASC championship and was a two-time NCCAA All-American with the War Hawks' 4x400 relay.



Wright volunteers his time at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas (where he underwent several surgeries) and hopes for a career as a caregiver for those with similar afflictions. He is a biomedical science major at McMurry.

- - - -



Fred Mitchell is a long-time Chicago Tribune sports columnist who enjoyed a distinguished career as one of the nation's first prominent small-college place-kicking specialists at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. During the mid-1960s, Mitchell set the NCAA "College Division" record for career points scored. Mitchell, who was named to the Lutheran College All-America team in 1968, was inducted into Wittenberg's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. Mitchell played semi-pro football with the Columbus Bucks while teaching English and coaching football and track at Grove City (Ohio) High School.

[GillCJ1]

^ Wright seems like a good kid, and I was definitely rooting him on in the Paralympic National Championships.  Good on him for his desire to be a caregiver once he graduates.

[D O.C.]

Everything's bigger in Texas, including the pool of schools competing for best-in-state. The shocking winner: The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, which has played 234 games of Division III football and won 84% of them. That's easily the best win percentage in the whole country. Go Crusaders!

http://www.reviews.org/college-football-wins/

[Scots13]

Impressive showing by D3 with 13 of 49 leaders. (correct my count, somebody)

Pacific Lutheran
Linfield
UMHB
Central
St. John's
Whitewater
Thomas More
Ithaca
Salisbury
Wesley
Salve Regina
Middlebury

[GillCJ1]

Love that D3 representation.  I know that Tom Herman being the new sheriff in town is all the rage right now, but the biased fan in me would have liked to see UMHB grace the cover (or even secondary cover) of Dave Campbell's Texas Football guide.  Gotta sell those copies, though!

[Ralph Turner]

Impressive showing by D3 with 13 of 49 leaders. (correct my count, somebody)

Pacific Lutheran
Linfield
UMHB
Central
St. John's
Whitewater
Thomas More
Ithaca
Salisbury
Wesley
Salve Regina
Middlebury

And I count 14 of those 50 jurisdictions that do not have a D3 team in the state.

HI, NV, ID, UT, MT, WY, CO, NM, ND, SD, NE (Nebraska if only because Neb Wes has not been a declared D3 football member for 200 games.), KS, FL,  and SC.

[Scots13]

So...
out of 50 states, only 36 have D3
and..
of those 36 that have D3, 13 are led by D3.

36% of the footprint is awesome, especially since there are four divisions (FBS, FCS, D2, D3).