FB: American Southwest Conference

[GillCJ1]

It was nice having such a close away game.  Happy for Coach Fred getting his 200.  We've been lucky to have a coach like him teaching and molding these young men since the beginning.

As much as I would LOVE to be in Abilene on Saturday, I can't.  It's my wedding anniversary on Friday.  I know, I know... weddings during football season.  I think most years we could have planned around a game since we're both sports nuts (in the past, we've made plans on weeks when the team is away), but 10 years is a big one.  So alas, while you're all cheering on your team of choice I'll be suffering at the beach... 

[Ralph Turner]

I wish schools with severely limited seating capacity for visitors would make reserved seating available for the guest side, especially for big/rivalry games. As it stands now, many UMHB fans will arrive at HSU at least an hour - if not more - early in order to have a good seat. A word to the wise for any UMHB fans making the trip, if you show up 15 minutes before kickoff, you may not find a place to sit.

This is a game that could have been played in Shotwell Stadium, the public school stadium for Abilene ISD.

However, I will bet the HSU bleachers will be full, too.

As for hotel accommodations, it is McMurry Homecoming this weekend.

[Hooyah Cowboys]

I wish schools with severely limited seating capacity for visitors would make reserved seating available for the guest side, especially for big/rivalry games. As it stands now, many UMHB fans will arrive at HSU at least an hour - if not more - early in order to have a good seat. A word to the wise for any UMHB fans making the trip, if you show up 15 minutes before kickoff, you may not find a place to sit.

Tell McLane to send some money out West then, must be nice! Lol

[Kelly Boggs]

If I were the home team and had an on-campus stadium, that is where I would want the game played. With that said, making at least a portion of the visitor seating reserved would be a help to the guests traveling to the game. Even if it is bench seating, many have the seats numbered.

When UMHB played Linfield in the quarterfinals in 2015, the visitor's seating was sold as reserved (numbers were on the bench seating) and you could buy them online and pick them up a Will Call the day of the game. It worked just fine.

I know everyone is not blessed to have an incredible stadium, but it is really not that difficult to try and be somewhat accommodating to the visiting team's fans.

In response to Hooyah, I will say this, I know most everyone involved with UMHB game day experience and visiting fans are treated as guests and given the same consideration as our season ticket holders. Every week we get feedback from visiting teams fans thankful for their experience at Crusader Stadium.

[Ralph Turner]

If I were the home team and had an on-campus stadium, that is where I would want the game played. With that said, making at least a portion of the visitor seating reserved would be a help to the guests traveling to the game. Even if it is bench seating, many have the seats numbered.

When UMHB played Linfield in the quarterfinals in 2015, the visitor's seating was sold as reserved (numbers were on the bench seating) and you could buy them online and pick them up a Will Call the day of the game. It worked just fine.

I know everyone is not blessed to have an incredible stadium, but it is really not that difficult to try and be somewhat accommodating to the visiting team's fans.

In response to Hooyah, I will say this, I know most everyone involved with UMHB game day experience and visiting fans are treated as guests and given the same consideration as our season ticket holders. Every week we get feedback from visiting teams fans thankful for their experience at Crusader Stadium.

What is the difference between the way that Linfield (and the NCAA under whose authority the game was played) handled the playoff game and the way Linfield routinely handles a game?

In some ways, the stadium experience is somewhat like the gymnasium experience for Hoops. I remember the old gym in which UMHB played was intimidating to visiting teams.

[Kelly Boggs]

As I said, the visitor's section was sold as reserved seating. I bought my tickets online. Picked them up at Will Call the day of the game. I arrived early to the game, but then again I always do. However, the majority of UMHB fans showed up about 15 to 20 minutes before kick-off because the seats were reserved. No one had to arrive early just to make sure they had a seat for the game. Linfield had students in the stands making sure you had a ticket and to help direct you to your seats. Linfield's visitor section is standard aluminum bleachers. Letters are painted at the end of each row and numbers on the bench seating. Hence, the seats can be sold as reserved. Linfield did not do this for the game with UMHB a few weeks back, but it was done for the playoff game, which means it can be done. 

I really believe every school could do this if they wanted to take a few extra - though not difficult - steps to accommodate visiting teams fans. They could even sell the reserved seats for a few dollars more and provide a little extra income.

[Hooyah Cowboys]

In response to Hooyah, I will say this, I know most everyone involved with UMHB game day experience and visiting fans are treated as guests and given the same consideration as our season ticket holders. Every week we get feedback from visiting teams fans thankful for their experience at Crusader Stadium.

The accommodation of our rivals is not priority number 1 when allocating our limited (and very normal) d3 budget. If the folks in Belton feel like sharing their silver spoon trust fund with their visitors, that is their decision. 

[wally_wabash]

It is very likely the loser will travel to the winner in the first round. I would say possibly the second round, but HSU losing at home to Linfield in the first round last year probably killed that as a possibility.

I don't follow this...why would last year's Hardin-Simmons/Linfield result have an impact on whether or not two ASC teams play in the first round of this year's tournament?  These seem like entirely unconnected things. 

[Kelly Boggs]

Hooyah,

If you read my posts and keep everything in context you will understand that it will cost a school very little to make the fan experience enjoyable for its guests. I little spray paint is all that is you really need. If they provide reserved tickets already, just add the guest side to the program. Not too hard and very little expense. It can be done. Also, they could sell the reserved seats for more and might recoup some, if not all, of the modest investment.

FWIW: Treating visiting fans as guests has very little to do with money and everything with attitude.

Your statement reveals you know absolutely nothing about the fund-raising efforts and the donors who give to UMHB. "Trust-fund," that's funny. 

[Kelly Boggs]

I don't follow this...why would last year's Hardin-Simmons/Linfield result have an impact on whether or not two ASC teams play in the first round of this year's tournament?  These seem like entirely unconnected things.

I've been led to believe that the previous year's playoff results have some bearing on the how the committee puts together the playoff bracket. We in Texas have long lamented the ASC teams having to play each other in the first round. Last season, the NCAA brought Linfield (the NWC champion) to play HSU in Texas. Linfield took care of the Cowboys. I don't see the NCAA doing that again. It is possible a one-loss ASC runner-up could go elsewhere, but I doubt they would fly UMHB or HSU to Oregon or California. I just think it will be the Texas sub-bracket once again, based in part to the Linfield vs HSU game last year. Just my opinion.

[Hooyah Cowboys]

Kelly,

Your stadium, which is probably worth more than our campus, was given to you by a Baylor University alum. If that's not lucking into a competitive advantage, I'm not sure what is. We have to fund raise for months to get a new pair of practice pants so the fact that we can compete with MHB should be an embarrassment for you and speaks volumes to the quality of the program and coaching we have at HSU.

[Kelly Boggs]

You are totally incorrect about the funding of Crusader Stadium. Drayton McLane gave a sizeable gift to the project, but certainly not all of it. His name is not on the stadium in Belton, it is on the one just up I35.

I could say more, but it is clear you are not taking my comments in the spirit in which they are given. I have said nothing about HSU's program or its facilities. I only suggested that any school with limited seating capacity could make at least a portion of their visiting seating reserved as an accommodation to the visiting fans.

I have nothing but respect for HSU's academics and athletics. The game on Saturday is against two good teams with a rich history of success. I am pulling for UMHB to win, but the sun will come up on Sunday morning if The CRU happens to come up on the short end of the stick.

[wally_wabash]

I don't follow this...why would last year's Hardin-Simmons/Linfield result have an impact on whether or not two ASC teams play in the first round of this year's tournament?  These seem like entirely unconnected things.

I've been lead to believe that the previous year's playoff results have some bearing on the how the committee puts together the playoff bracket. We in Texas have long lamented the ASC teams having to play each other in the first round. Last season, the NCAA brought Linfield (the NWC champion) to play HSU in Texas. Linfield took care of the Cowboys. I don't see the NCAA doing that again. It is possible a one-loss ASC runner-up could go elsewhere, but I doubt they would fly UMHB or HSU to Oregon or California. I just think it will be the Texas sub-bracket once again, based in part to the Linfield vs HSU game last year. Just my opinion.

Ah, ok.  To my knowledge the only impact that the previous year's tournament results have on the current year's tournament is when seeding undefeated teams in instances when the primary and secondary selection/seeding criteria don't create clear separation. 

As for the Texas sub-bracket- yep, it stinks.  But y'all are at the mercy of the budget folks.  Last year the NCAA sprung for an extra first round flight.  It would be nice if that were precedent-setting, but more likely it's a year to year thing.  I don't think that Linfield result from last year is a factor.  It shouldn't be anyway. 

[Kelly Boggs]

You are probably right, wally, I just shared what I've been led to believe. I get the budget stuff. We just need some teams a little closer to Texas to make the playoffs, but as you know there just aren't too many. The NWC and SCIAC are in the same boat.

[Ralph Turner]

Kelly, UMHB is the only team whose fans travel in those numbers for a regular season game. My usual experience at McMurry for Homecoming, is that the visitor's side rarely is more than half full.  I will let Toby Taff, or some other Abilenian who has seen both schools, comment on the access to visitor side seating. HSU has a relatively large visitor's (east) side.

That is why I suggested Shotwell, which would forfeit some of the Home Field Advantage.