FB: American Southwest Conference

[SaintsFAN]

Pete Fredenburg just now:



Holy cow.

Wally - do you think they called that fake?  I think Mullins went with an "automatic" after nobody lined up over that WR.

Confirmed this in the postgame, but that's pretty basic special teams, every team should have that built in. MU was sending 10 and the return man noticed it too late. Fredenburg said if it had been a call, he wouldn't have done it at that point in the game but he trusts Mullins and Mullins saw it and executed it.

Thanks, Keith.  See you Thursday night.

[footballfan413]

congrats Cru for the win today.  will have to play better next week to beat oshkosh.  should be a good game.

For what it's worth, that's what they do. Looked very similar to the game against Wheaton. It looks like they're plodding along and going conservative on offense but they put it on their defense to win.

Defense. Wins. Championships! 
 
A huge congrats to the Cru, staff and fans! So happy for your program! This WIAC fan was rooting for you all the way!  Been a big fan ever since we traveled to Belton for our first meeting in 06!  For the first time since I started watching D3 football in 03, I feel like, "my team," wins no matter the outcome on Friday!   
     And the fake punt?  Damn, that was fantastic. 

[Ron Boerger]

That fake punt was brilliant - happy for the Cru and their supporters.   Seeing UMU lose in person last night was amazing.   Seeing Keith in person and meeting with some of the d3fb board denizens was only slightly less amazing 

ESPN even put this on their NCAA page (towards the bottom, of course) - AP write-up which got some of the facts wrong (e.g. that UMU was the first team to win three road playoff games in a row).  The focus is UMU not being in the Stagg for 12 years, which is an incredible streak.    http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18251448/mary-hardin-baylor-crusaders-end-mount-union-purple-raiders-11-year-stagg-bowl-streak

Game forecast is cold with temps in the 30s lowering to the 20s and a chance of snow - question of timing still TBD.

One more game to play, gentlemen.   Bring it home.

[SaintsFAN]

Congrats Cru and fans: 

Who has plans to be in Salem for the game?  I will be attending (a bucket list item for this former player) and would like to meet as many posters as I can. 

My flight arrives Thursday evening and I'm staying at The Hotel Roanoke, which I'm told is near some decent bars/restaurants.  Send me a PM if you're interested in meeting. 

Do people still exchange shirts/hats?  I can't wear Oshkosh because I never got over our loss to them 

[wally_wabash]

Wally - do you think they called that fake?  I think Mullins went with an "automatic" after nobody lined up over that WR.

Confirmed this in the postgame, but that's pretty basic special teams, every team should have that built in. MU was sending 10 and the return man noticed it too late. Fredenburg said if it had been a call, he wouldn't have done it at that point in the game but he trusts Mullins and Mullins saw it and executed it.
[/quote]

Just as amazing as the play itself- that Mount Union kind of gave away their last chance on a formation blunder.  It's the kind of error Mount Union teams make once every decade or so.  Good on Mullins to recognize it and make the play. 

[D3MAFAN]

Congrats Cru and fans: 

Who has plans to be in Salem for the game?  I will be attending (a bucket list item for this former player) and would like to meet as many posters as I can. 

My flight arrives Thursday evening and I'm staying at The Hotel Roanoke, which I'm told is near some decent bars/restaurants.  Send me a PM if you're interested in meeting. 

Do people still exchange shirts/hats?  I can't wear Oshkosh because I never got over our loss to them 

I'm 90% sure I'll be there.

[roocru]

Congrats Cru and fans: 

Who has plans to be in Salem for the game?  I will be attending (a bucket list item for this former player) and would like to meet as many posters as I can. 

My flight arrives Thursday evening and I'm staying at The Hotel Roanoke, which I'm told is near some decent bars/restaurants.  Send me a PM if you're interested in meeting. 

Do people still exchange shirts/hats?  I can't wear Oshkosh because I never got over our loss to them 

I'm 90% sure I'll be there.

I will be driving up from Texas.

[zipmac22]

How do they decide which team is home and visitor for the Stagg Bowl?

[Kelly Boggs]

Winging my way to Charlotte, NC, and then driving to Salem on Thursday evening.

[D O.C.]

roocru ...  I liked Hwy 20 from Dallas to just west of Intercourse where it bends northeast on through Tuscaloosa. 459  loop around Birmingham and it's I-59 to Chattanooga.  I-75 northeast to Knoxville and then I-81 to the Salem off-ramp.
I did the reverse last April.
Made the mistake of not stopping in Salem to look at the field.  I figured I'd be back instead of you. 

[SaintsFAN]

roocru ...  I liked Hwy 20 from Dallas to just west of Intercourse where it bends northeast on through Tuscaloosa. 459  loop around Birmingham and it's I-59 to Chattanooga.  I-75 northeast to Knoxville and then I-81 to the Salem off-ramp.
I did the reverse last April.
Made the mistake of not stopping in Salem to look at the field.  I figured I'd be back instead of you. 

put your helmet on for the Tennessee portions, the folks drive like they are running Talladega.  I've been passed doing 85 mph on that stretch of I-75.

Safe travels.

[GillCJ1]

First of all, wow!  That was such a great ending to witness in person.  The fans around me just exploded after the fake punt and Ajay INT.  The only other times I can recall it being that loud was the first game in the stadium (vs. Wesley) and the semifinal against Whitewater in 2012.  What a cool atmosphere, at least where we were sitting.  The older alumni (well, older than my 37 years anyways) are always glued to their seats.  I didn't see the ESPN coverage, but I assume that's what D O.C. was referring to.  That's just the way it's been since I started attending games.  Maybe because there was no football team back when they attended?  Dunno.  We've asked that question many times over the years.  That's why I like sitting above and just to the side of the student section.  We feed off their energy.

Anyways, as poor and/or conservative as the offense was, our defense stepped up once again to secure the W.  I can't say enough good things about the makeup of this squad.  It's a shame that several key contributors are approaching their final game this week.  At least they will go out with a shot at the championship!

One quick thing.  I (sadly) saw Blake's scramble and fumble coming a mile away.  Moments before it happened, I told my wife he's gonna lose the ball.  The exact same thing happened against Redlands.  As dynamic as he is, he needs to do a better job of protecting the ball while on the run.  It goes without saying, but he can't do that this week.

I won't be making the trip to Salem (too expensive), but I wish everyone safe travels.  Go Cru!  Bring home the 15th win of the season and the natty!

Edit - if there are any UMHB students lurking about, the fan bus(es) are almost filled up.  If you're still waiting to go, check your student emails immediately.

[Bombers798891]

Congrats to MHB on a big win. Glad to see some new blood in the Stagg Bowl!

BTW, I absolutely loved that they went for it on 4th down with 45 seconds left rather than punt the ball away. Sure, it's tempting to pin them deep and figure with 35 seconds and no timeouts, and a QB who had been essentially shut down, that there was no way Mount was going to drive some 70 yards to get in FG range. (And honestly, I think MHB wins if they get the punt off, for that very reason) But I love that MHB decided to be aggressive on their home field.

A deserved win

[MUC57]

All Cru Fans-

A belated congrats on your victory over my alma mater. Although the game was close, UMHB was the better team. Quite a few of us here in Alliance felt some months back that this was your year. Unfortunately, that proved to be the case.
This 3rd game between the two teams may have been the best of the series. I can see more good games down the road. However; keep in mind that we need to win the next one to even out the series. I suspect you'll have something to say about that!
But I digress. Congrats again and best in the Stagg Bowl. I know you were not at your best last Saturday. Be at your best this coming Saturday and take the trophy home to Belton.
Now, are you ready for this one?  GO CRU!!!!!

[DFWCrufan]

MUC57 good deal and right back at UMU, actually this last round of four has been amazing. This proves something to me that I had begun to question, and that is that the final four is an opportunity for any program in Division III. As all know UMU and UWW seemed to be the biggest of the big dogs even though other programs are very talented, for one reason or another they didn't make it through the gauntlet. But... I am now quite happy to once again believe that anything can happen on a Saturday, it's not luck or fate, it's simply that team that year. that moment with the opportunity to rise, weather or not they do it is up to them.
This is not the death knell of any program out there, I expect the 2017 season to see a battle hardend UMU show up, a on fire Linfield, A WIAC conference with a view that any one or two of them can get to the show, a HSU and a JCU with eyes on the prize and the capability to get there. I would expect to see St. Thomas get really hungry and a Wheaton who now has the confidence to get to the end. Basically, not just because it's UMHB/ UW-Oshkosh in the 'ship but it shows that DIII is not a two or three program show, and that makes for great football and great performances...Great season UMU, you'll be great...let's just set a date for Stagg 2017 for our next meeting.. have your people call ours....