FB: American Southwest Conference

[Bill McCabe]

What is known about Christopher Newport?

[roocru]

Ralph and Ron Boerger,

Are either of you guys going to the AC/McMurry game in Sherman this week.  I plan to be there for a get together of some of my old fraternity buds and would like to put a face and a name together for you guys.  I know Josh will be taking pictures and I plan to finally meet him.

[Olinemom]

What is known about Christopher Newport?

They are in a rebuilding year.  They got whomped by Rowan.  However, I still wouldn't take them lightly.  They get lots of the good talent from the beach area.  Perhaps it was a first game type of situation.  I hope you come in and take care of them myself.  Reminds me, I must ask Roocru if he is coming to Va.

[roocru]

Ollinemom,

Can't make it, dadgum it.     I am still responsible for running the high school stadiums in my school district on Friday nights.  However, I am going to watch my Roos take on Ralph's McMurry team on Saturday.  Thanks for thinking about me and maybe we can meet again later on !   

[thrwdp]

Not new to college football(d1-aa) but new to d3 football. what i have seen as a distant observer of HSU practices and scrimmages and through week 1 now, they do not give equal opportunity to all. Especially new kids. I did some extensive investigation on who are the freshmen on this team and where they came from. there are only 2 freshmen receivers on this team that are getting a real look and i couldnt understand why. Then i saw where one is a brother of a GA so that answered that question. I also saw numerous kids that played at very small high schools and for the most part should decide that football is not for them. I know that causes problems for coaches to have that to sift through. Although, i did notice one kid came from a 5A school where he led the district in receiving for 2 years but since the numbers dont match i couldnt ever find him at the freshmen game against McM. Is this just a situation that takes a season to sort through due to the exclusion of the red shirt program or is HSU politically driven? I do not have a child or even a blood relative playing but, at the game this past Monday i heard from many who did that they were sure led to believe things were going to be different.

[Josh Bowerman]

I'm not sure the "Winningest Team in Texas" over the past 10 years needs to change anything about the way they evaluate players.

Jimmie plays the best kids, period, and always has.  You could fault the guy for different things if you wanted to, but that's not one of them.  He shuffles a lot of players in and out of games, even before "garbage time". 

Your first post sure was lousy.  The bright side is that they could only get better.

[Toby Taff]

thrwdp

As an avowed UMHB fan in Abilene, I could say bad things about HSU, but they'd all be crap.  2 years on campus talking to people and observing has taught me that Josh speaks truth.  Keeling plays the best players available.  If the best players have character issues they become the former best players because Keeling has high expectations and will remove them.  One problem, and you see the same problem in Belton, is the number of people that come out to play.  Its competitive, there are no free passes.  Players pay their dues.  Keeling does rotate a ton of players in and out, and at home games, except in the playoffs when rosters are limited, I believe everyone can dress.  I last weeks game, 37 people other than the starters played.  Keeling works to make sure his guys are game ready.  Watch a season or two and you'll see that.

On another note... if you are watching freshman teams play, are you in  Abilene?

[Bill McCabe]

When all other things are equal, most 20 and 21 year old juniors and seniors way ahead of 18 year old freshmen.  The college game is a lot faster and much more physical.  It takes time to adjust. There are many D1 programs that try to red shirt all of their incoming freshmen.  I don't think HSU needs to change the way they evaluate talent.  Very few freshmen play at UMHB. 

[Ron Boerger]

Not new to college football(d1-aa) but new to d3 football. what i have seen as a distant observer of HSU practices and scrimmages and through week 1 now, they do not give equal opportunity to all. Especially new kids. I did some extensive investigation on who are the freshmen on this team and where they came from. there are only 2 freshmen receivers on this team that are getting a real look and i couldnt understand why. Then i saw where one is a brother of a GA so that answered that question. I also saw numerous kids that played at very small high schools and for the most part should decide that football is not for them. I know that causes problems for coaches to have that to sift through. Although, i did notice one kid came from a 5A school where he led the district in receiving for 2 years but since the numbers dont match i couldnt ever find him at the freshmen game against McM. Is this just a situation that takes a season to sort through due to the exclusion of the red shirt program or is HSU politically driven? I do not have a child or even a blood relative playing but, at the game this past Monday i heard from many who did that they were sure led to believe things were going to be different.

Geez, buddy.  You're "new to d3 football" and yet your first post is critical of one of the top programs in not only the state but in the country.  Look at the size of the HSU roster and figure out exactly how likely it is that a freshman is going to be able to contribute straight out of high school, having to learn a totally new set of plays, techniques, etc.  Look at the pounding HSU put on UW-SP last week and figure for yourself whether it's "politics" or playing the best talent. 

At least HSU has a JV team for the younger kids to pick up some full-speed game experience - many D3 programs don't have sufficient numbers for that.  The result is that the freshman who aren't playing varsity ball will be that much more likely to contribute in the rest of their college careers. 

Every parent thinks their little darlin' is the best player on the team, and I'm sure that's the case for "the many" you heard from.  At this point, I'll take Coach Keeling's experience and judgement over theirs. 

PS - "d3fballguru" is a pretty ironic e-mail alias for someone who admits they are new to the game. 

[Bill McCabe]

Ron,  I think you are right on the mark with your comments.  The jump from high school to college is huge and it is fortunate that some schools have JV teams. 

[Josh Bowerman]

Ron, do you want to hitch a ride to Sherman this weekend?  I'm happy to pick you up on the way north, if you'd like to go.

[evacuee]

HSU is better than 95-15 over the last 10 years?

[Josh Bowerman]

Not my title, the Associated Press came up with it. 

I was wrong, however, about the timetable.  Not the last 10 years, the last 15.  HSU is 140-35 over that span. 

I appreciate the opportunity to clarify.

[Bill McCabe]

TU2698, I suspect programs that play a lot of freshmen might be closer to 15-95 over 10 years.  

[ldfan]

What was the score of the HSU JV game on Monday?