FB: American Southwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks, Dr. Bawcom, we appreciate it.

[umhbalum]

Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets for Sat on the Internet or over the phone?

I'm in Dallas these days and normally we just show up and buy at the gate but I don't want to drive 3 hours and find out there are no tickets left on the UMHB side.

Thanks in advance!

[Ron Boerger]

Quick note:  Mark Sartain has stepped down at ETBU.

http://www.etbusports.com/football/news/2012-13/264/sartain-resigns-as-etbu-head-football-coach/

[Jerry Bawcom]

UMHBAlum, call Doak Fleming at 254-295-4216.  I think you can order the tickets, pick up and pay at the Will Call window.

[Ralph Turner]

Quick note:  Mark Sartain has stepped down at ETBU.

http://www.etbusports.com/football/news/2012-13/264/sartain-resigns-as-etbu-head-football-coach/

Coach Sartain took ETBU anywhere, anytime to play some of the finest programs in the country.  Here are the non-conference games since 2007.

Trinity
at Ouachita Baptist (D-2)
at St John's
at Azusa Pacific (NAIA power)
at Willamette

Home and Away:
UW-LaCrosse
Redlands
Wesley
Austin College

[DE Wesley Fan]

Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets for Sat on the Internet or over the phone?

I'm in Dallas these days and normally we just show up and buy at the gate but I don't want to drive 3 hours and find out there are no tickets left on the UMHB side.

Thanks in advance!

We don't bite - you'd be welcome to sit on "our" side

[TxFight]

For me personally, I hate to see Coach Sartain go.  I played for him the past 4 years, and the main reason I stuck around ETBU and did what I did so that I could play was Coach Sartain.  It would have been real easy for me to bail out after my Sophomore year and play my last 2 years somewhere else, but I would not have played for anybody besides Coach Sartain.  He is an amazing leader in not only dealing with us, but in his walk on and off the field.  I don't know what my future has in store for me, but I know that I am more prepared for it because of Coach Sartain.

[umhbalum]

UMHBAlum, call Doak Fleming at 254-295-4216.  I think you can order the tickets, pick up and pay at the Will Call window.

Thank you! Another member here contacted me and was nice enough to get me a couple of tix and will meet up with me and my son at the game

[umhbalum]

Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets for Sat on the Internet or over the phone?

I'm in Dallas these days and normally we just show up and buy at the gate but I don't want to drive 3 hours and find out there are no tickets left on the UMHB side.

Thanks in advance!

We don't bite - you'd be welcome to sit on "our" side

[umhb2001]

Picked up my tix today. Ready for this!

[K-Mack]

HS Coach's post does show that Mt has had some tougher games in the OAC.
It's also fair and contextual to point out the playoff draws Mt has had in recent years.  Not taking anything away from Mt because you can only play the teams the committee sends your way-and I know it's a geography issue, but it is the reality.
Take a look at the playoff teams that many from the west/south (or those not named Mt) have had to play in order to get a shot at the Stagg, and compare them to the teams Mt has played.  For the most part, Mt's toughest playoff opponent comes only in the semis. 
Compare that to what many top teams have faced in the last few years.  Linfield already has played two of the toughest teams in the playoffs and has their third coming up. 
Remember, when you're playing tough teams, the starters don't get the rest.  When the starters are in the entire game, there simply is a greater chance for injury and fatigue.   

Either way, Mount Union has always had the chops to deal with teams going to Alliance and you cannot take that away from them.  They are just tough on both sides of the ball.  It could be a disadvantage for them to deal with powder-puff opponents prior to a real test, but I haven't seen it yet.   It is up to the other teams to knock them off that semifinal pedestal they stand on. 

-Ski

I agree entirely that it could be a disadvantage that Mt plays a less challenging playoff schedule. Heck I'm sure the players and fans would love tougher competition.
The point remains the same though in that due to the geography issue and Mt's high regard, they don't get tested the same as many other programs have.  As such, there is some truth that supports the feeling that "Mt doesn't play anybody"- at least in the first 2-3 rounds of the playoffs.

Linfield definitely has had the toughest road of the top seeds, but this is a pretty huge exaggeration: "Linfield already has played two of the toughest teams in the playoffs." Eh, No. 20 and 14 (who beat 8, but still ... eight of the toughest teams in the playoffs are still playing this week).

The West has always been the region with the most second-tier teams knocking each other off. The North has the CCIW and Mount/OAC2 and the South is usually pretty good.

These East teams this year might not win Saturday, but I think they are two of the best they've sent forth in a while. St. Thomas seems vulnerable, and Widener is dynamic and might win if they were matched up with someone besides mighty Mount.

UMU often gets the easiest road, but same time, they make it look easy, and I'm not so sure in the North or South they wouldn't have 2-3 rounds of blowouts as well.

Anyway, with UMHB/Wesley next week, their road to Salem will have a serious roadblock.

Would be interesting to see what would happen if Mount Union ever got sent on the road. The years there's an opening, the other team stumbles.

[K-Mack]

Quick note:  Mark Sartain has stepped down at ETBU.

http://www.etbusports.com/football/news/2012-13/264/sartain-resigns-as-etbu-head-football-coach/

Coach Sartain took ETBU anywhere, anytime to play some of the finest programs in the country.  Here are the non-conference games since 2007.

Trinity
at Ouachita Baptist (D-2)
at St John's
at Azusa Pacific (NAIA power)
at Willamette

Home and Away:
UW-LaCrosse
Redlands
Wesley
Austin College

He also asked me, during that McMurry trip a few years back, if I could suggest some easier non-conference games for ETBU. lol

Was the only time we talked, I think, so I don't have much of an impression of him as a coach, but it's too bad.

Shame that program never got on track. The ASC is competitive, yet that seems like a place where football could do really well.

[echelontx]

Great podcast especially regarding UMHB!! So excited for game sat!  If CRU comes out like they have the past two weeks there is no question who will win!! Good luck to both teams and stay healthy!! Hope everyone comes out and wears purple!!! Go CRU!!

[@d3jason]

HS Coach's post does show that Mt has had some tougher games in the OAC.
It's also fair and contextual to point out the playoff draws Mt has had in recent years.  Not taking anything away from Mt because you can only play the teams the committee sends your way-and I know it's a geography issue, but it is the reality.
Take a look at the playoff teams that many from the west/south (or those not named Mt) have had to play in order to get a shot at the Stagg, and compare them to the teams Mt has played.  For the most part, Mt's toughest playoff opponent comes only in the semis. 
Compare that to what many top teams have faced in the last few years.  Linfield already has played two of the toughest teams in the playoffs and has their third coming up. 
Remember, when you're playing tough teams, the starters don't get the rest.  When the starters are in the entire game, there simply is a greater chance for injury and fatigue.   

Either way, Mount Union has always had the chops to deal with teams going to Alliance and you cannot take that away from them.  They are just tough on both sides of the ball.  It could be a disadvantage for them to deal with powder-puff opponents prior to a real test, but I haven't seen it yet.   It is up to the other teams to knock them off that semifinal pedestal they stand on. 

-Ski

I agree entirely that it could be a disadvantage that Mt plays a less challenging playoff schedule. Heck I'm sure the players and fans would love tougher competition.
The point remains the same though in that due to the geography issue and Mt's high regard, they don't get tested the same as many other programs have.  As such, there is some truth that supports the feeling that "Mt doesn't play anybody"- at least in the first 2-3 rounds of the playoffs.

Linfield definitely has had the toughest road of the top seeds, but this is a pretty huge exaggeration: "Linfield already has played two of the toughest teams in the playoffs." Eh, No. 20 and 14 (who beat 8, but still ... eight of the toughest teams in the playoffs are still playing this week).

The West has always been the region with the most second-tier teams knocking each other off. The North has the CCIW and Mount/OAC2 and the South is usually pretty good.

These East teams this year might not win Saturday, but I think they are two of the best they've sent forth in a while. St. Thomas seems vulnerable, and Widener is dynamic and might win if they were matched up with someone besides mighty Mount.

UMU often gets the easiest road, but same time, they make it look easy, and I'm not so sure in the North or South they wouldn't have 2-3 rounds of blowouts as well.

Anyway, with UMHB/Wesley next week, their road to Salem will have a serious roadblock.

Would be interesting to see what would happen if Mount Union ever got sent on the road. The years there's an opening, the other team stumbles.

I saw Widener scrimmage Wesley at the start of the year and they do some nice things but I don't think they beat Wesley, UMHB or Linfield either (Teams I've seen in the past year.)

The receiver is great and the QB is good (but turns it over too much.) I don't think they'd be able to run it on any of those teams and the pass rush will force Harupt into turning it over. They'll make some plays though.

On defense, You can get some behind their secondary unless they are playing off more than in August (and I realize that it was a scrimmage that neither team game-planned for and that teams improve over the course of the year.)

[Jerry Bawcom]

We are counting on the UMHB offensive and defensive lines controlling the line of scrimmage to enable both backfields to make great plays!!!
Whomever controls the line of scrimmage will win!