FB: American Southwest Conference

[Josh Bowerman]

I gave my son a Ton-Ton for Christmas 1982!  Did your parents give you a Ton-Ton?

Weren't Ton Tons those hairy, white, dinosaur things Luke Skywalker and Han Solo rode in Empire Strikes Back?    If so, I was never lucky enough to get one. 

[billybaroo]

Dang right they are Josh. I had a couple of them but the toy didn't look the same on the inside as it did on the movie.

[Ralph Turner]

Dang right they are Josh. I had a couple of them but the toy didn't look the same on the inside as it did on the movie.

Apparently your toy didn't smell as bad as they did in the movie either!

I think that Josh needs to spend some serious Star Wars time with his daughter!  Start at Episode IV.  It is really cool when Princess Leia's ship flies past you in the opening scene.

[hpudad]

Zmotion

HPU had only 2 JV games last year.  They were against HSU and McMurry and both games were at their place.  I think, but I don't know for sure, HPU not having their own stadium (they share with Brownwood ISD) may play into the issue.  I know UMHB shares a stadium with Belton ISD but they may have a better working arangement.  Also HPU didn't have the depth of HSU, UMHB or other teams in the conference.  HPU's 2nd and 3rd string players got to play in many varsity games last year but it was mostly after they had the game well in hand or filling in for injuries.  Coach Redwine didn't get a full recruiting season last year but has recruited well this year.  Hopefully HPU will attract more players and develop more depth.  The win over UMHB last year has attracted many players to look at attending and playing at HPU.  I think HPU will be competitive this next season. 

[Zmotion10 out on 2]

I bet your right.  Brownwood is a nice place to go to school.  Not too big and not too small.  We should have an exciting year in the ASC.

[Josh Bowerman]

Surely my old HS coach Steve Freeman would be amenable to letting the 'Jackets on the field (it's Field Turf, after all) more than once a week!

[hpudad]

I am just guessing about the reason for HPU only having 2 JV games.  Maybe they were not able to schedule more because of budget or depth of player reasons.  I think the JV games help a lot in developing players.  Gets them use to the new systems they are playing in and introduces them to a high level of competition from what they experienced in High School.  I think it is a key point in developing successful championship programs.

[Zmotion10 out on 2]

I know this is not the Hoops section, but congrats to the HSU Cowgirls for making the final four. 

[wildcat11]

Cru Fans,

I've been working on a video project of Linfield's top ten moments over the past ten years and today the top three were revealed (Linfield top ten over the past ten).  Needless to say, the Stagg Bowl game was voted number 1.  Below is a link to the video package I put together of the game.  Granted, it's slanted towards Linfield but still highlights UMHB's scoring strikes.  Hope you can enjoy it.

Number 1: "The Stagg Bowl" (2004 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Linfield)

Riding the most prolific offense ever assembled in Linfield history, the 'Cats (12-0) rolled team after team during the 2004 season and into the DIII championship game vs running machine, The University of Mary Hardin Baylor (13-1).  However, both defenses would slow down the scoreboard and the game came down to a timely punt block, a one handed catch on a swing pass, and a National Title clinching sack to help deliver Linfield's first NCAA Division III title (fourth overall championship) with a 28-21 victory.

[Josh Bowerman]

Something strikes me as rather magnanamous about that.....

[Ron Boerger]

UMHB announced their schedule today.  Look out CNU, the CRU are comin' to get YOU ... and miracle of miracles, a WIAC team is comin' on down after things cool off a bit.

SEPTEMBER 9 at Christopher Newport, 12:00pm
SEPTEMBER 16 at Sul Ross State University*, 1:00pm
SEPTEMBER 23  TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY*, 7:00pm
SEPTEMBER 30 at McMurry University*, 2:00pm
      
OCTOBER   7   HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY, 2:00pm            
OCTOBER 14 at Louisiana College, 6:00pm
OCTOBER 21   MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE, 1:00pm
OCTOBER 28   WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER, 1:00pm

NOVEMBER   4  at East Texas Baptist University, 1:00pm   
NOVEMBER 11  HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY, 2:00pm

[Josh Bowerman]

That's a pretty decent non-conference schedule for the Crusaders.

[Chess4Me]

I like it that HSU & UMHB have both stepped up to improve their schedules with quality opponents. Nobody can accuse them of dodging anyone! It should help UMHB's SOS with anoher south region opponent, as well.

These two schedules should help mitigate Pat's recent comments about the "fluff" schedule of another ASC member. The whole conference will benefit nationally when all of the members do the same with their scheduling.

[Josh Bowerman]

What would be really nice is to have the Linfield, UW-SP and UW-W games count in the QOWI index for HSU and UMHB.

Alas, the powers that be either A) don't understand the difficulties in scheduling the Texas schools have, B)  don't want to encourage the type of scheduling that HSU and UMHB have done this year, C) don't care or D) all of the above.

DIII games are DIII games.  So what if you have to travel out of region--if your school is willing and able, then the games should count.  Otherwise, we end up with what the ACFC has to deal with.

[Ralph Turner]

I like it that HSU & UMHB have both stepped up to improve their schedules with quality opponents. Nobody can accuse them of dodging anyone! It should help UMHB's SOS with another south region opponent, as well.

These two schedules should help mitigate Pat's recent comments about the "fluff" schedule of another ASC member. The whole conference will benefit nationally when all of the members do the same with their scheduling.

Chess, I will respectfully disagree with you on the comment about HSU's and UMHB's schedules.  They have always tried to play the finest non-conference games possible.

UMHB had a wonderful 4-year run with the highly-respected Willamette Bearcats.  To CNU's credit, they will play anyone, anywhere.  UMHB will likewise play anyone anywhere, as demonstrated by what I assume is a 2-year contract with UW-W.

HSU had had trouble finding South Region opponents to play.  In 2004, the UW-Stout cancellation forced HSU to schedule Sul Ross State twice.

The good thing about the 10-team conference was the 9-conference game schedule.  Now, we ASC teams must replace the AC loss with 9 non-conference games.  I believe that Austin College will keep old rival McMurry and Texas Lutheran.  The 6-team SCAC conference schedule will probably increase to 7 when Colorado College joins.  AC also plays (NAIA) Southwestern Assemblies.

I respectfully submit that these are the practical non-conference schedules that they can have.

Miss Coll--Millsaps and Huntingdon or LaGrange
La College--SCAC team and Huntingdon or LaGrange
ETBU--SCAC team (Trinity this year) and Huntingdon or LaGrange
McM--AC (McM is an old rival and perceived to be a good chance at a win) and another D3 opponent (Menlo this year).
UMHB-- South Region opponent (CNU in 2006 & 07) and another opponent, UW-W
TLU--AC (AC's likely choice among the old ASC foes) and Trinity.  Likely to be perennial favorites for the Bulldogs.
HPU--South Region opponent and another D3 team.
HSU--any 2 D3 opponents they can get, (UW-SP and Linfield this year.)
SRSU--unfortunately, anyone they can get.