FB: American Southwest Conference

[BoBo]

I agree with you about the cold being different in Wisconsin than in Texas. But as I stated above, i think the Crusaders will be prepared to play football, no matter what the weather. Coach Fredenberg and the Coaching staff will assure that. For the most part, they always have.

yessir, in your way of thinking, were the Crusaders well-prepared, somewhat-prepared or under-prepared to play football for the game in Oct? Consider the players and/or coaching staff...what are your feelings on that?  I believe many observers on both sides of the field that day could easily take the position, that on that day, they were under-prepared for what happened. I think your last sentence contradicts the previous couple sentences.

[yessir]

yessir, in your way of thinking, were the Crusaders well-prepared, somewhat-prepared or under-prepared to play football for the game in Oct? Consider the players and/or coaching staff...what are your feelings on that?  I believe many observers on both sides of the field that day could easily take the position, that on that day, they were under-prepared for what happened. I think your last sentence contradicts the previous couple sentences.

I think the Crusaders were prepared to play in October. However, due to some costly mistakes (turnovers) early in the game, UW-W forced the Cru to get out of it's game plan. I can gaurantee you, without a shadow of a doubt, that throwing the ball 29 times was not the game plan. It wasn't the game plan then, or will it ever be at UMHB as long as Coach Fred is around. Against an extremely good team like UW-W you cannot make costly mistakes and expect to win, period. I also do not believe that someone can be somewhat prepared. Either you are or your not. If your not ready to play, then your not, you can't be somewhat ready to play. Atleast that's my thinking....

You can also see that I said "For the most part."

I just don't see the weather being a factor in this game especially after looking at the forecast.

[Toby Taff]

As side note  cold in Wisconsin is a lot different than cold in TX or Delaware  ask the Wesley boys.

I've experienced cold in Wisconsin in late December and early January (my sister-in-laws family is from Orfordville and her dad worked at the Hormel plant in Janesville) and Texas, and I'd rather be cold in Wisconsin.  When it's cold in Texas, it's usually a very wet cold that cuts through everything you wear.  You can't escape it, until the next day when it's back up to 75 or 80.

Keep in mind my idea of cold is a little different than some...If its over 50 shorts are ok.

[footballfan413]

All this talk about the weather giving the Hawks an edge, don't really buy it.  Sounded like you all played in  brutal weather a fews weeks ago.  Adrenaline takes care of a lot of that and I expect the Cru to come with plenty of it. Luckily, I don't believe that the Hawks need any extra help from the weather but I do give credence to the idea that a sloppy or frozen field can slow down a fast team.

[CruAlum39]

I would like to expand a little bit off of yessir's comments to you BoBo.

I was not at the game but I did watch it, painfully if I might add, on the live streamcast. 

My thoughts are not that UMHB was not prepared, but there were some other reasons they lost that day. 

I think that UMHB tried to exploit a weakness they may have seen in that week's film by throwing early and a more often than normal to try to be a little "unpredictable".  Sometimes this strategy works out and gives you some big plays early to create some momentum.  Sometimes it can go the other way.  UWW definitely played very well and beat UMHB by making and executing more plays, being more balanced that UMHB, and capitalizing on turnovers and other UMHB mistakes.

However, another thing that I saw from the game, that is different than what I hear from everyone else, is something UMHB does very well, but did not do that day. 

I am referring to the inside power running game.  It seemed to me that both Thrasher and Daniels were not hitting the holes with a full head of steam like they normally do.  Now, sometimes they were not there, giving credit to the Warhawk D.  But other times, instead of putting their head down, falling forward and getting 3-4 yards each time, they were tip-toeing in the hole, never getting there shoulders turned upfield, and getting stopped for no 0-2 yards.  This is not an effective way to move the chains for a running team. 

The last thing I want to say, and it has been said before, is that UMHB is very good at playing opponents they have lost to in the same season.  It is very hard to beat a high caliber team twice in a year. 

Who cares about the weather.  You have two teams that have a lot to play for, and want it very badly.  They will get after it no matter what.  It makes me remember what my high school coach used to say when asked, "what are you going to do if it rains?"  He would simply reply, "We're going to beat them in the rain."

Get after 'em Cru!!!

[drinkxs.com]

based off all the doom and gloom from the uww peeps; maybe the cru should just stay home, sit around the fireplace sipping warm hot chocolate with a blanket...

or, if the Cru decides to make the trip, then maybe the uww bucaneer can shoot his cannon at the cru team and fans as they arrive...

being serious, both teams play in the same weather on the same field. the winner will be the team who executes their game plan, makes necessary adjustments, stays focused, and is possitive in take aways.

[Bill McCabe]

crualum39,  Good points about the October game.  However, I think we were doing a pretty good job running the ball.  Three INTs put us in a huge hole.  I hope we stay with the running game this week.  If UMHB throws more than 10 or 12 times, I think we are in trouble.

[Bill McCabe]

Looking back at the first game, UMHB was non existent with the passing game in the first half.
1st drive:  0-2 passing
2nd drive:  INT on 2nd down after Thrasher gained 5 rushing.
3rd drive:  2 first downs rushing and then another INT.
4th drive:  first down rushing 0-2 passing, punt
5th drive:  3 rushing first downs, fumble after a completion at the UWW 17

I'm not criticizing Josh because I think he is a very good QB that has made numerous big plays over the years.  The running game is our strength and I hope we will rely on it more Saturday.  When the Cru makes their opponent stop the running game, the passing game will open up.  Plus, we have a championship defense, so let's don't put them in difficult positions.

[Ron Boerger]

Congrats to Coach Pete, named AFCA Coach of the Year for Region 3 (South)!

[BoBo]

yessir, in your way of thinking, were the Crusaders well-prepared, somewhat-prepared or under-prepared to play football for the game in Oct? Consider the players and/or coaching staff...what are your feelings on that?  I believe many observers on both sides of the field that day could easily take the position, that on that day, they were under-prepared for what happened. I think your last sentence contradicts the previous couple sentences.

You can also see that I said "For the most part."

I just don't see the weather being a factor in this game especially after looking at the forecast.

The comment "For the most part" was the contradiction I was referring to.  The point I was trying to assert without actually saying it was I felt that the WW coaching staff out coached and out-prepared the UMHB staff in that they were able to make the necessary adjustments to effectively gain the upper hand.  The Cru coaches always seemed to be a step behind reacting to the decisions made by the Warhawks and not being proactive and attacking WW with their strength (the run) and causing the WW staff to make adjustiments.  It was almost like they thought passing the ball would soften up the WW defense for the run, rather than just do what they do best.  WW's secondary and LB strength became extremely obvious and by the time UMHB knew what hit them, they were out of the game. I also felt that the Cru coaching staff felt their passing game was stronger than it really was (on that day).

BTW, just to change the subject a bit, prior to the first meeting, we all heard on the WIAC board from Cru fans about the monster of a receiver in Oliver and how he was going to be a one man Warhawk wrecking crew with his size and ability. As it turned out, in that game, the WW D neutralized his skill, mainly because the QB had difficulty throwing the ball.  He seems to have disappeared from everyone's thoughts so far this week...just wondering how the last part of the season went for him?

[k-hud]

Oliver got injured, I believe in the first round game against Trinity.  In the two ASC games after UWW, he had 7 catches for 129 yards and 4 TDs according to the stats on the UMHB website.

[Toby Taff]

Oliver was injured on a kick off in the trinity game away from the play.  He has a slight tear of his ACL and will probably be out this week.  The hope was out fro 2 weeks which would be Saturday, but I haven't heard anything yet.  And since the UWW game he not only has caught several TD passes, he had a 79yd TD pass on a reverse.  Apparently he was a QB in high school.

[BoBo]

Thanks guys, that's too bad to hear about his injury.  Hope is able to go on Saturday.  I also heard that your starting center was injured vs Wesley.  Is that true? If so, what is the projection for him.  I think the only WW player mending is the kicker, Jeff Schebler.  He was injured (leg) against UW-Platteville in the last game of the regular season and hasn't kick during the playoffs.  From what I understand, he was cleared to play last sat., but they held him out due to the lousy footing.

[Toby Taff]

The starting center was injured early and replaced with a freshman who did a pretty good job from what I understand.  Thrasher has also been banged up.  He hurt his ankle in the NCWC game and didn't play after the 1st quarter.  He seemed to be ok last week.  In Oliver's absence, they have done a couple of different things at receiver.  Last week they subbed a DB in on 3rd and 29 and hit him for a 35 yd 1st down pass.  They have thrown more to Adam Aguilera (6'2", 215 TE) and Cole Smith.  I guess that's the benefit of having a deep team.

[yessir]

Yeah, the loss of Oliver will definately hurt us this weekend, hopefully he will be able to go with the injury. I think whenever you play 14 games leading into a national championship, depth is just as important as talent on a team.  If you have 15 great players and 5 of them are banged up then your chances are slim to make it in the playoffs, but if you have 35 great players then you have a great chance to make a run. I think UMHB has the talent on the 1st and 2nd teams to make a run. They have had some injuries, but they also have some people to fill the gaps. I just pray that they take care of the football on saturday and allow the running game to control the football game.

Speaking of the game on saturday, in October I smelt some very good smells coming from the park-in-lot. Anyone planning on having a tailgate party that Texans would be invited to!!!!

Also, i was wondering, with the NCAA rule of "No Artificial Noise Makers" will the guy be able to blast the cannon on saturday. I know that was very annoying in October, only because we were losing. Any other time I think it would be a great addition to a "Home Field" experience. Just a thought.

Go CRU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!