FB: American Southwest Conference

[DFWCrufan]

Caught the Southwestern V. Denison game - SW seems to be a decently solid team, not what I would call a dynamic team, but (of course this is game 1) a solid, play their positions, run their patterns solid team this year. I have always said SW can be easily in the top 3 or 4 of the ASC, I would not be surprised if they are there.
I'd keep my eye on them....

[umhb2001]

Caught the Southwestern V. Denison game - SW seems to be a decently solid team, not what I would call a dynamic team, but (of course this is game 1) a solid, play their positions, run their patterns solid team this year. I have always said SW can be easily in the top 3 or 4 of the ASC, I would not be surprised if they are there.
I'd keep my eye on them....

Agreed. They may even surprise ETBU. They don't have a lot of size, but they play hard and get their assignments done right. If they could fund a decent stadium, they could start diverting players from HSU and ETBU simply by location.

[umhb2001]

Finally, a week that sees the Cru take the field for a meaningful game. So many questions. After checking in on a few games over the weekend, I certainly feel Brockport and St. Thomas are closer to that #2 spot than we would like to admit. As usual, the poll means nothing if you don't win the games, and there is something to be said about beating a team handily. We need to do that this weekend.

I think I've ticked off the CruSports Twitter feed, or possibly Mr. Jon Wallin. They hardly ever respond to my inquiries about the next coaches show and when the final roster, game notes will be posted. I don't get it. One of their biggest supporters and not a response. Oh well, I'll keep supporting, of course, I'd just appreciate a little feedback.

HSU at Trinity this weekend is on my radar. Trinity monkey-stomped McMurry. We'll see if they can put pressure on HSU.

[umhb2001]

So Albright gave up 662 total yards...654 were on the ground.  Hopefully, the Cru can take advantage of this and get something going. Rushing has not been our strong suit in a few years. Yes, we've been good, but not great. A lot of that is due to the spread offense and desire to throw more, which I love, but we have to be able to control the line and pound the rock.

Salisbury ran a triple option threat that really gouged Albright several times. One 80 yard scamper is an example of this. Markeith, Marquis, and Isaiah need to get some good runs, and the OLine needs to be able to control the LOS. With a revamped front 4, this should be a good test run as we get into conference play.

Also, UMHB has got to utilize the speed of the WR's and get some crossing patterns. They can outrun most defensive players, yet we saw next to no plays run against the team from Mexico.

[DFWCrufan]

UMHB Offense looks to explode! News report from Firday! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv358aZIXRE

[DFWCrufan]

I found the stream for the UMHB V. Monterrey scrimmage if anyone is interested. Understand it is raw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWeitAQ70HY

[ADL70]

Caught the Southwestern V. Denison game - SW seems to be a decently solid team, not what I would call a dynamic team, but (of course this is game 1) a solid, play their positions, run their patterns solid team this year. I have always said SW can be easily in the top 3 or 4 of the ASC, I would not be surprised if they are there.
I'd keep my eye on them....

Agreed. They may even surprise ETBU. They don't have a lot of size, but they play hard and get their assignments done right. If they could fund a decent stadium, they could start diverting players from HSU and ETBU simply by location.

The ISD stadium seats about double what they need and it's not on-campus, but what's not "decent" about it.  Southwestern's admission standards are higher then either H-SU or ETBU.

[umhb2001]

Caught the Southwestern V. Denison game - SW seems to be a decently solid team, not what I would call a dynamic team, but (of course this is game 1) a solid, play their positions, run their patterns solid team this year. I have always said SW can be easily in the top 3 or 4 of the ASC, I would not be surprised if they are there.
I'd keep my eye on them....

Agreed. They may even surprise ETBU. They don't have a lot of size, but they play hard and get their assignments done right. If they could fund a decent stadium, they could start diverting players from HSU and ETBU simply by location.

The ISD stadium seats about double what they need and it's not on-campus, but what's not "decent" about it.  Southwestern's admission standards are higher then either H-SU or ETBU.

I just mean the location and reflection of school climate. It's the same reason UMHB needed a better field. It's great for HS, but Tiger Stadium doesn't promote UMHB. Georgetown ISD Stadium doesn't exude Southwestern University. A stadium on campus that reflects school culture would be better.

[Toby Taff]

So the telegram has some interesting info about UMHB's QB situation. Apparently there is a competition between Jace Hammack, junior transfer from ACU, and Luke Poorman, junior transfer from UMU. The real surprise was taht the paper also list DeNerian Thomas as a QB rather than as a WR. From the TDT story by Eric Drennan:

Senior DeNerian Thomas — a do-it-all star during his high school days at Mart — spent his first three seasons at UMHB as a wide receiver but is now listed as a quarterback, a position he played during last week's intrasquad scrimmage.

"It's a numbers thing with some guys in front of him at receiver, so then you look at other spots where he could maybe help the team," Fredenburg said. "In the past, DeNerian was always reluctant to be used in the wildcat (formation) but now he's embracing the chance to do whatever he can to help this team his senior year."

[umhb2001]

They still list TJ as a QB too. He played an entire series at QB in the wildcat formation against the team from Mexico.

[bman]

So Albright gave up 662 total yards...654 were on the ground.  Hopefully, the Cru can take advantage of this and get something going. Rushing has not been our strong suit in a few years. Yes, we've been good, but not great. A lot of that is due to the spread offense and desire to throw more, which I love, but we have to be able to control the line and pound the rock.

Salisbury ran a triple option threat that really gouged Albright several times. One 80 yard scamper is an example of this. Markeith, Marquis, and Isaiah need to get some good runs, and the OLine needs to be able to control the LOS. With a revamped front 4, this should be a good test run as we get into conference play.

Also, UMHB has got to utilize the speed of the WR's and get some crossing patterns. They can outrun most defensive players, yet we saw next to no plays run against the team from Mexico.

Albright will be better next year.  They lost a ton last year, but have a good coach, an administration that's committed to putting a competitive team on the field and had a good recruiting class this year, several of which will be starters next year.   Unfortunately I don't really think this is going to be a competitive game this year.
I will be making my way up to Reading to see UMHB in person, since I have only watched the team on video.   Anyone coming up, please have a safe journey, get a Cheesesteak (you're in the heart of Cheesesteak country!), take a day to go to Dorney park (a fun local amusement park)and stay out of the city of Reading as much as possible (eat and stay elsewhere)... It's not a safe place...

[Ron Boerger]

I just mean the location and reflection of school climate. It's the same reason UMHB needed a better field. It's great for HS, but Tiger Stadium doesn't promote UMHB. Georgetown ISD Stadium doesn't exude Southwestern University. A stadium on campus that reflects school culture would be better.

Consider the possibility that Southwestern's goals and prorities are not the same as UMHB's.   That, or they don't have an alumnus willing and able to foot an eight-figure bill for a beautiful on-campus stadium. 

[CruGuy]

It's certainly possible (and probable) that Southwestern's goals and priorities aren't the same as UMHB's, but they don't talk like they added football to be mediocre. And we're not talking about Sul Ross or McMurry here. Their endowment is 4x UMHB's at a cool $240M. That's >2.5x TLU who committed $18M to basically build a new football stadium, softball stadium, overhaul baseball field, intramural fields, training facility, and tennis courts. If Southwestern is serious about football they should build an on campus stadium, and it doesn't have to compare to UMHB to be worth the cost.

[Ron Boerger]

You won't find too many schools spending endowment money on athletic facilities, so that comparison is moot.   

Again, *you* think Southwestern can't be "serious about football" without its own stadium.   I say to you that they obviously feel differently.   They have had modest success at a level consistent with the age and goals of their program.   The team is a credit to the greater university community, receives good support from the people of Georgetown, and has brought over 100 male student-athletes to the school, many of whom would have probably not considered the school in the first place.   Perhaps that is how the Southwestern administration defines "serious". 

[crufootball]

I just mean the location and reflection of school climate. It's the same reason UMHB needed a better field. It's great for HS, but Tiger Stadium doesn't promote UMHB. Georgetown ISD Stadium doesn't exude Southwestern University. A stadium on campus that reflects school culture would be better.

Consider the possibility that Southwestern's goals and prorities are not the same as UMHB's.   That, or they don't have an alumnus willing and able to foot an eight-figure bill for a beautiful on-campus stadium.

Not like it matters but didn't they have a donor alumnus that was going to at least partially fund a on campus field? I thought I remembered something about a donor being lined up and then taking it back for some reason.