FB: American Southwest Conference

[@d3jason]

Jason Bowen is our new Around the South columnist, and his first missive is up on the front page.  Check it out--it's well done.

Thanks, Jason, and keep up the good work!

Thanks Josh, I was a little nervous being a Yankee and all. 

Unfortunately, I probably won't getting to any ASC schools this year, unless Wesley starts playing whole lot better, but I welcome your comments and any ideas you guys can me feed would be greatly appreciated.

[Pat Coleman]

And for those who don't know, Conrad = Jason Bowen. Folks, meet Conrad. Conrad, meet folks.

[used2b]

congrats to HSU FOR THE BIG WIN LAST WEEK! It is good to see  some ASC schoolsget quality wins against traditionally excellent opponents.

[Josh Bowerman]

Thanks Josh, I was a little nervous being a Yankee and all. 

Unfortunately, I probably won't getting to any ASC schools this year, unless Wesley starts playing whole lot better, but I welcome your comments and any ideas you guys can me feed would be greatly appreciated.

As long as you're even-handed and unbiased, you'll do just fine.

[golden_dome]

The official press release won't go out until tomorrow, but Mississippi College quarterback Adam Shaffer will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. He actually sufferered the injury during the first series against Cumberlands.

Says a lot about him that he gutted out the entire game, just a tough break for him for the second time in three years. Hate it happened to him again, he entered this season on pace to break most of the ASC's career passing records with two more good seasons. Still not sure exactly what the damage is but he will have surgery next week.

[Ralph Turner]

Does he qualify for a medical redshirt?   

Thanks in advance.

[golden_dome]

Does he qualify for a medical redshirt?   

Thanks in advance.

Honestly Ralph, I'm not sure how the rules apply in Division III now that there is no redshirting. In a scholarship situation he would have redshirted in 2006 with the first knee injury, and would have had a strong case to receive a medical redshirt this season. When I find out how the rules apply in this case I'll post the information. 

Even if he is eligible, he will have a lot of factors going into that decision. How the surgery goes, what kind of team we have the next few years and what kind of interest he is receiving professionally.  He is a smart kid majoring in chemistry, so he might not want to play 5 1/2 years. Hopefully everything goes well for him physically so he has different options to choose from.

[Ron Boerger]

Sorry to hear about Shaffer - he's a gamer - and best wishes with the NCAA should he decide to try that route. 

[Josh Bowerman]

Is it the same knee, Chris?

[golden_dome]

Is it the same knee, Chris?

It was the same knee, and he was wearing a brace so really nothing he could have done about it. But like I said, he won't know the full extent of the injury until he has surgery next week. Hopefully, he'll get good news and it's something he can recover from completely. Just unfortunate.

[minni]

been extremely quiet in here this year so far.  I guess people dont have much going on yet this year.  What is the "circled" game this year for different teams???  As an HSU fan there a couple for me.  Of course the always highly anticipated HSU v. UMHB game.  Also this year for me the HSU v. HPU game with Jordan Neal now being a HPU coach should make things interesting. 

Sorry I was just trying to spark some conversation, been kinda dull in here.

[Ralph Turner]

been extremely quiet in here this year so far.  I guess people dont have much going on yet this year.  What is the "circled" game this year for different teams???  As an HSU fan there a couple for me.  Of course the always highly anticipated HSU v. UMHB game.  Also this year for me the HSU v. HPU game with Jordan Neal now being a HPU coach should make things interesting. 

Sorry I was just trying to spark some conversation, been kinda dull in here.

Yeah, we haven't had an upstart bursting onto the scene.

Miss College lost badly to Millsaps in the opening week.
TLU is down from its Top 25 status in early 2006.
ETBU played a great game at St John's, but nothing to prompt over-enthusiasm that might show up on the message board.
HPU is still rebuilding, and hasn't been near the Top 25 since 2003 pre-season.
SRSU is under a new administration, and doesn't have the media swarm over a 59 year-old senior LB.
LaCollege has few posters on any board.
McMurry posters have been more active on the hoops and baseball boards.

Just HSU and UMHB fans anticipating the post season...

In some aspects, you could make the case that UMHB's dominance has squelched any boisterous message board talk.

[etbualum]

Now that ST Johns is gone I dont know that we have a circled game.  We make every game difficult so I will go with the Sul Ross game is the most important .

I will be interested to see the crowd here on Saturday.  Our volleyball team had the gym half full last night.  Around 8-900 people for a volleyball game is a very nice crowd.  Hopefully the football crowd will be good.   With our teams going to tournaments and the hurricanes we have had only 3 sporting events on campus so far this semester.  

Games notes for ETBU vs Sul Ross


ETBU SID
http://www.etbu.edu/opencms/handle404?exporturi=/export/sites/default/Current_Athletic_News/Football/Game_Notes/vs._Sul_Ross_08.pdf

Sully SID

http://www.sulross.edu/docs/athletics/fbwketbuc.pdf

[roocru]

Interesting story from the Temple newspaper (link is on the home page of D3football).

Some information is quoted below;

"UMHB limited Southern Nazarene to only 37 rushing yards, making it the 39th consecutive game in which opponents have failed to produce a 100-yard rusher.

Willamette (Ore.) teammates Quentin Brock and Cameron Walton were the last players to rush for 100 yards against the Crusaders when they both accomplished the feat in the 2005 season opener.

In fact, during the last 39 games, only three opponents have managed to total 100 rushing yards as a team."

This is an admirable statistic for any defense, especially when it includes nine playoff games and two games against UW Whitewater and it's vaunted rushing attack.  I must say I am really impressed.   I think it also lends credence to the question of why UMHB gives up the passing yards they do, because everyone "knows" they cannot run against UMHB. 

This is not intended to be bragging in any way.  I think it is just an amazing statistic and needs to be shared.

[TigerDad]

Honestly Ralph, I'm not sure how the rules apply in Division III now that there is no redshirting. In a scholarship situation he would have redshirted in 2006 with the first knee injury, and would have had a strong case to receive a medical redshirt this season. When I find out how the rules apply in this case I'll post the information. 

Chris, where did you get the statement "now that there is no redshirting"?

A "medical red shirt" is not an official NCAA term, but the term is used when a student-athlete is injured after participating in a limited amount of competition during a particular academic year and then qualifies for a Medical Hardship Waiver.

The Hardship Waiver is described in section 14.2.5 of the "NCAA Division III Manual 2008-2009" ... available on-line here ... that section is on page 108 of the following PDF file:

http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Division_3_Manual_2008-093931a78a-9fe9-4077-93e0-d99fa45a51c1.pdf

The manual describes the conditions (and there are many) regarding participation, season duration, the exact timing of the injury, etc.  Hardship Waivers are administered/granted by either the conference (ASC, SCAC, etc.) or the NCAA itself, after application and proof of the nature and timing of the injury is submitted by the member school's athletic department representatives.

I am certainly NO expert on the rules, but I am well-aquainted with one athlete who was granted a "medical redshirt" for the 2006 season after being injured in the first game of the season.  He has since recovered and is playing in his third year of eligibility now, with a fourth remaining in 2009 (God willing).

Multiple injuries in the same year and multiple injuries in different seasons are handled under special considerations that do not seem to be clearly addressed in the manual.

Perhaps some of the other posters (SID's, AD's, coaches) who have more expertise in this area will wish to comment further ...

However, I would like to wish young Mr. Shaffer a speedy and complete recovery, regardless of his future in football.  My prayers are with him and his family ...