FB: American Southwest Conference

[fisheralum91]

Ride the horse!

GIDDYUP!

[couchcru11]

FA91,

It worked against JCU.  I'm riding the lucky horse until it dies.

Well, you can ride that horse in just about the only place that people ride horses instead of using cars! haha. Man I love Texas!

[Ron Boerger]

bleedpurple,

I never said the UMHB should host a semifinal game because of The CRUthedral, I only said it would be a great venue if The CRU ever earns the right to host. When UMHB does return to the Stagg Bowl, the stadium will have made a contribution. It does not hurt when recruits get a tour of the finest facility in D3. Of course, since you've never experienced The CRUthedral you will just have to take the word of those who have had the opportunity to visit.

By the way, FYI, the visiting teams players, administration and fans get treated royally.

Having experienced that hospitality (which, of course, did not extend to the on-field activities  ), I can attest to UMHB's generosity.  Some of that is wanting to show off a beautiful new facility, naturally, but all the same everyone was very courteous to us intruders.   

[bleedpurple]

bleedpurple,

I never said the UMHB should host a semifinal game because of The CRUthedral, I only said it would be a great venue if The CRU ever earns the right to host. When UMHB does return to the Stagg Bowl, the stadium will have made a contribution. It does not hurt when recruits get a tour of the finest facility in D3. Of course, since you've never experienced The CRUthedral you will just have to take the word of those who have had the opportunity to visit.

By the way, FYI, the visiting teams players, administration and fans get treated royally.

Gothcha, Kelly. Thought you were weighing in as to WHY the game should be there. And, yes, facilities definitely will help draw athletes. I would never argue against great facilities being a huge factor in success. It is a worthy investment.  I definitely hope to visit one day. If both teams win on Saturday, I guess we will know Sunday if it will be this year or a future date!

Good luck to both teams on Saturday and no injuries!

[SJFF82]

We are going to get Cru shed

[bleedpurple]

CRUshed?
CRUcified?
CRUmated?
CRUstroyed?
CRUmolished?

Never know. That's why they play the game. 

[fisheralum91]

82....You drank booby's Kool-Aid too?
Cmon man....
You are a cagey vet at this kind of thing.
Damn, is it really FA91 that has to be the voice of reason.....
God help us all!

[boobyhasgameyo]

I think 82 is just playing around.  It's making me laugh anyway. 

Getting back to this speed deficit that we are going to face...I'm curious as to theories on why there is a surplus of speedy players in Texas but such a dearth of it on almost the entire eastern seaboard?  I don't have any facts in front of me but I'm assuming the state of Texas churns out quite a bit of division 1 football players, yet they still have enough talent leftover to equip teams like UMHB with evidently elite speed.  Meanwhile 99% of the remaining D3 teams can't field the same type of fast players.  It's a curious situation to me. 

Is it dietary differences?  The fact that Texas kids can run around outdoors year round while we are getting hammered with 100 inches of snow every winter and are confined indoors?  But we still have things like treadmills!  I'm at a loss. 

[Toby Taff]

I think 82 is just playing around.  It's making me laugh anyway. 

Getting back to this speed deficit that we are going to face...I'm curious as to theories on why there is a surplus of speedy players in Texas but such a dearth of it on almost the entire eastern seaboard?  I don't have any facts in front of me but I'm assuming the state of Texas churns out quite a bit of division 1 football players, yet they still have enough talent leftover to equip teams like UMHB with evidently elite speed.  Meanwhile 99% of the remaining D3 teams can't field the same type of fast players.  It's a curious situation to me. 

Is it dietary differences?  The fact that Texas kids can run around outdoors year round while we are getting hammered with 100 inches of snow every winter and are confined indoors?  But we still have things like treadmills!  I'm at a loss.

I attribute it to the emphasis of 7 on 7 in Texas schools. 7 on 7 is basically a skill position game. Its all about the QBs and receivers. In texas its played outside the per-view of the UIL (the athletics governing body in texas) so its played after the football season is over. Schools actually hire  people to coach it that are not associated with the football staff to keep the programs separate and to keep from violating UIL rules. They have 7 on 7 tourneys and a state title all of which keep the skill postition guys working on their speed and skills year round. That's why you have Texas QBs all over the college map (and NFL map).

I'm sure there are more reasons.

[Ron Boerger]

In many states the popularity of football is falling off for numerous reasons - not the case at all in Texas, and the Texas schools like UMHB know how to recruit the kids that aren't on the map for schools back east.  Many student athletes want to stay in the state; many aren't dialed in to the opportunities offered by out-of-state schools, good though they may be.  And, finally, UMHB has been the premiere program in the area for so long now that students wanting to follow the D3 model self-select to associate themselves with that success.  With a killer new facility the cycle will probably intensify.

[Ralph Turner]

I also believe that the quality of the coaches in the public schools makes a huge difference.

The Texas High School Coaches Association is huge.  http://thsca.pointstreaksites.com/view/thsca/headlines  (How many now?  12,000?)

Players get excellent instruction in the skills of football from these coaches.  So, there are plenty of players who are 3 inches too short, 30 lbs too light and 0.5 secs too slow to play D-1, but execute precisely and have a strong work ethic. UMHB finds them.

[Kelly Boggs]

Well, we made the decision to stay at home in Central Louisiana this weekend and to not make the trip to Belton. The weather is just too iffy. It's crossing all those bridges from Crockett on into Temple/Belton that has me most concerned.

Crazy weather this year. Last year during the playoffs I wore short sleeves for every home game. This year it's been layers and a coat in round one and a pretty heavy sweat shirt for round two.

The Internet feed will have to suffice.   

[jaypeter]

First time wandering over to the ASC thread since the semi-final last year, but thought I'd step in a little bit.  Quick background...born and raised in Webster, NY (suburb of Rochester), alum of Mt. Union, lived in Austin and Corpus Christi for about 6 years, and just moved back to CC this fall.

About cold weather in the south?  Even as a winter sports enthusiast, the coldest I have ever felt was when Corpus Christi had a white Christmas in 2004.  It does somehow feel different and can remember some dang cold moments in Austin during icestorms, too.

The hospitality at UMHB is great.  I met a few fans when I randomly went to a game up there against TLU and wore a Mt. Union shirt.  It was before UMHB really took off, but even then I was impressed by the talent in just their 3rd year or so.  That game was played at the high school stadium...I'd love to get up someday to the new one.  That's a loooong drive when I work every Sunday morning, though!  If Mount plays there, though, you can bet I'll make it.  Might even take day off from church to do it!

If UMHB is anything like they were last year in the semi-final (probably the best Mt. Union game I've watched), the speed of SJF is absolutely no match.  I actually picked UMHB to beat Mt. Union in my bracket and haven't seen much to take away from that.  Would love to see a hometown team (for me) win the game, but I don't see it happening this time.

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome Jaypeter.  Glad you wandered back onto the ASC board.

Don't stay away so long next time!

[jaypeter]

Also meant to say that while there is something that feels different about the cold in Texas, I do NOT think the cold will really play any part in the game on Saturday.  Rain?  Wind?  Probably if they're bad enough.  Cold?  Nope.