FB: American Southwest Conference

[kickhoe]

It's exciting to see McMurry moving in a positive direction.  I think the McMurry/HSU rivalry could be very good.  McMurry has been so below HSU in terms of talent for a long time that the rivalry has not been as good as it could be.  That's not to say McMurry hasn't surprised HSU, but it has been a long time.

[Bill McCabe]

A win by McM over HSU would do wonders for their recruiting.

[hsucowboyfan]

A win by McM over HSU would do wonders for their recruiting.
[/quote

True.............................but they haven't beaten HSU in 17 years!!!  Since HSU restarted their program with coach keeling in 1990.  McMurry may be moving in a postive direction but things wont change as far as beating the cowboys!!!

[kickhoe]

That surprised me that McMurry has not beaten HSU....back when football was restarted, I could have sworn they beat us.....but the record books don't lie!!!   

Bill, you are correct....if McMurry can pull out a win against HSU....it would really do wonders for their program.

Back a few years ago, I would have liked to see ACU play HSU.....I think HSU has had some teams that could beat them.

[kickhoe]

Ralph can probably answer this.....

How do schools go about scheduling opponents?  I was looking back at the HSU record since football was brought back in 1990....I noticed that HSU has played nearly all of the Wisconsin schools at least once.  Are these games put together because the coaches know each other?  Just curious. 

[Ron Boerger]

HSU is one of those teams that has to go to a great effort to get other D3 teams to schedule them.  The only non-ASC D3 team in the area is Trinity, who already plays two ASC teams, and the next closest is Colorado College who until this year was an independent and really had nothing to gain by scheduling such a tough opponent.  Rather than go the NAIA/D2 route Coach Keeling schedules quality opponents who similarly have problems finding non-conference games and will commit to a two-year home-and-home series.    Only strong programs like the WIAC teams and Linfield are willing to sign up for that kind of commitment (financial and otherwise) and the possibility of a loss.   It's a credit to the HSU program and Coach Keeling that they do this nearly every season. 

[Ralph Turner]

Ditto what Ron said.  +1 Ron!

kickhoe, the NCAA is refining its technique in evaluating the "Strength of Schedule" or RPI for D3.

The new 2007 D3 Football Handbook has the opponent's winning percentage (OWP) and the opponents' opponents' winning percentage (OOWP) as criteria.  This replaces the "Quality of Wins Index" (QOWI).

The premise is the HSU will get more credit for playing (and even losing to) Linfield and UW-Lacrosse than a game with a Southern Nazarene (NAIA) or a LaGrange (a winless D-3 school).

HSU knows that defeating UMHB gives them a great chance at the Pool A (Automatic Qualifier) bid.  If HSU had gone 10-0, then we would be looking at a potential 3-4 home games at Shelton.

[yessir]

Don't qoute me on this, but i'm pretty sure you just find a team that has an opening and ask them to play. As the program gets better and better it becomes harder for them to schedule opponents because no one wants to lose. I know Willamette wouldn't reschedule because they were tired of losing. Once they agree to playing then all the paper mumbo jumbo has to be worked out. Didn't Stout renig on a game with HSU one year? I think it's impressive that UMHB was able to schedule UW-Whitewater. Two teams that are at the top of D3 dokeing it out in the middle of the season. Scheduleing teams like that, makes it hard to have perfect seasons. Same with HSU scheduling Linfield. Games against big time opponents like that are good for the program. Whether you win or you lose, the benefits for your team are there. The hype involved with playing the No. 2 team in the nation, paired with a victory, or a tight game like the 7-3 Whitewater vs. UMHB game last. Can create alot of buzz for your team, as well as the University. Plus, playing opponents like that get you ready for the postseason. It's good to see teams scheduling tough opponents even though they don't have to. I still don't understand why UT plays Rice every year. Rice always gets murdered. If I was Rice I wouldn't schedule that one. Maybe someone can enlighten me on that one.

[kickhoe]

Yessir.....in D1....it is all about the money......  

If I understand correctly....the cream puffs that some of the D1 schools play get a boat load of money. 

[hsucowboyfan]

That surprised me that McMurry has not beaten HSU....back when football was restarted, I could have sworn they beat us.....but the record books don't lie!!!   

Bill, you are correct....if McMurry can pull out a win against HSU....it would really do wonders for their program.

Back a few years ago, I would have liked to see ACU play HSU.....I think HSU has had some teams that could beat them.

From what I've always heard is that ACU didn't want to play HSU.  The squads a couple of years ago, im almost certain could've beaten ACU!!!

[Bill McCabe]

What is the word on MC?  How good are they?

[Ron Boerger]

8 Ball says:  Outlook cloudy, ask again after Saturday 

They're good, but until they defeat Hardin-Simmons still a bit of an unknown.  Good wins against Texas Lutheran (0-4) and McMurry (1-3); a win that's hard to peg the significance of given Millsaps' bizzare coaching strategy against Millsaps (3-1).  For those who came in late, DuBose played 2nd/3rd team the entire second half (a total of 74 players, 27 who stepped onto a college field for the first time) and ended up losing 27-26 after building a 20-3 lead in the first half.  But regardless, MC got the win and so if they can beat HSU will have an excellent chance at a pool C if they can't defeat UMHB.  HSU knows they aren't getting in the playoffs unless they win the ASC so they'll be motivated to win, too.    HSU has the offense to win, the question will be can the defense keep up.  Should be a good game!

[golden_dome]

For those who came in late, DuBose played 2nd/3rd team the entire second half (a total of 74 players, 27 who stepped onto a college field for the first time) and ended up losing 27-26 after building a 20-3 lead in the first half. 

Ron,
   I am not gonna post about this all season but just to be accurate, Millsaps subbed in the 4th quarter with the lead and not the entire second half. Starters played the third quarter.
   Looking forward to this weekend's game against the Cowboys. Your right, should be a good one. Several big games in the south this week with Hardin-Simmons at MC, Millsaps at DePauw and Bridgewater at Hampden-Sydney.

[Ron Boerger]

I stand corrected Chris, thanks.

[golden_dome]

I stand corrected Chris, thanks.

Really not a big deal Ron, ready to let all that go. Everyone will have a good idea of what kind of team MC has after this weekend. I know a lot of people have written off HSU with the two tough nonconference losses, but they are 1-0 in the ASC and I am sure they are still thinking ASC Championship and NCAA playoffs.