FB: American Southwest Conference

[DFWCrufan]

News wrap up of the UMHB V. Southwestern game   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Ex5wy8tVw

[Coolrey]

Oh, sorry -- I was given Karley Free's contact info to help set up the interview with Coach Fredenburg for Friday's podcast and I was under the mistaken impression that she led the videography. My bad.

Karley heads CruVision which is the camera crew at the stadium, but Twig is head of UMHB Videography, he basically runs film for all sports from practice to games.

Thanks for the clarification I looked on the site and saw both, but figured Twig might be the head guy in charge... by the way, anyone viewing the game on livesteam, what was your quality like (I mean the images)

I watched a good deal of it, but honestly, it was tough to watch.  The ground level shots, in my opinion, should only be shots of the sideline between plays or during play stoppage and used some during replays.  All live action should be shot exclusively from up-top.  Otherwise, the game is very difficult to follow.  I watched some of the TLU game, and the quality of the picture was much clearer.  The UMHB video seemed a bit grainy/blurry.   Hope this helps and that shooting the live action from above is considered for the upcoming games.  Thanks.

[DFWCrufan]

Yes thanks, I contacted Karly and she said they are working to correct the pixelation issues. On the other side. Southwesterns coverage was absolutely first class. I know they are using the SHN Sports Network and it was pretty close to spot on professional as you can get. Good video shots, even sideline reporter which was a nice touch.

I like to listen to the opposition coverage as well - here is a link you can watch the SU coverage... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOCt9DGyBYw&t=3598s

[D O.C.]

Thanks PC and TT for answering my quiery.

[HSUCowboy2015]

HSUAlum255,
Are you in Abilene? If so, the guy walking around in downtown wearing UMHB gear this week is probably me. 

Haha I do live in Abilene and work for Hardin-Simmons, but I am in Houston this week for work. Making the three hour drive to Belton on Friday for the Belton-Temple game and then going to the big one on Saturday!

[HSUCowboy2015]

D O.C.,

What's going on with the boys from Oregon? I knew the defense was going to be solid, but I thought with a decent year under his belt the QB was going to lead the offense. I'm very very surprised to see the Cats' at 1-2.

[HSUDAD]

Well here we are the week everyone looks forward too.  For me it has been four years (son is a senior this year) of looking at the wrong end of the score when it comes to the Cru (ya I know we won the first game in 2015, but we ended that year at the hands of UMHB). 

First let's look at the ETBU game and don't get me wrong we played really well, but as soon as our coaches figured out there was zero run game from the tigers, we literally dropped 7 and 8 into coverage and it was over.  We all know that that is NOT going to be the case Saturday, UMHB will be too balanced to load one over the other.  I just want to say that Baca is a heck of a competitor, tough and it did not go unnoticed, always like watching competitors on the field.... 

Now for the Cru faithful, you have always been friendly and respectful through the years and that is appreciated.  Just looking for some friendly conversation this week, it is really the only time I get on the boards because we can't usually get any friendly banter with other teams. 

Here is my opinion thus far of the Cowboys.
Special teams
Kick off coverage has been shaky at best, we seem to try and kick to a corner around the five yard line, which I get trying box things in, but it has resulted in several kicks that went out of bounds and/or we have given up too big of a return.  However if there is a little help from the wind we have no problem kicking out of the end zone.
PAT/FG kicker has a very strong leg, seems to have improved over the past couple of games, but has had some misses early on that can come back to haunt us in close games.
Punt (well we haven't had to punt that often, so hard to analyze), could be a problem because we haven't seen a lot of live action.  The punts we have had to make have been killed inside the ten which can prove to be huge field advantage wise. 
Kick return has been solid
Punt return early in the season we had some muffs, but seem to have cleaned that up considerably and have had some big returns, interested to know how the Cru punt has been, in years past you have always done a great job of punting away from our punt returner negating any return.

Defense
Strong against the run, have had some busts in coverage in the first couple of games (this has me scared to death this weekend).
I think we have had too many careless penalties, I like being aggressive and just football mean, but do not hurt the team with careless personal foul penalties. 

Offense
Looking great, but lets be honest here too we have been great every year except when we play the Cru, we HAVE to stay away from the pic 6.  If memory serves me correctly we have given up a pic six the past two seasons and both of those games ended fairly close in score. 
Big question is Hemphill, he did leave with an injury against ETBU, but I do not have a clue as to how serious it is.  Our back ups backs are good, but come on we are talking about the preseason offensive MVP that has been averaging 200 plus yards per game so far.   

Love to hear some analysis of the Cru, I know you have dominated every game so far, are there any concerns?  I have tried to look back at previous posts, but seems to depend on who is posting. 

Cautiously optimistic about Saturday, but we no doubt are going to have play near perfect to have a chance.

[cover2]

Quite the rivalry football weekend we have coming up:  Belton-Temple, Texas-ou, UMHB-hsu, and even Cowboys-Texans for in state purposes.  Fired up!

[TLU02SA]

Question about McMurry.  Does anyone have any insight that they can provide as to McMurry's decision to transition to DII and then reverse course?  I ask because the multiple moves appear to have been a disaster for their football team.  This past Saturday, McMurry looked bad and defeated from the kickoff against TLU.  Frankly, the game was over before the first quarter ended (TLU was up 28 - 0 in the first quarter and 44 - 0 at half).  Maybe last Saturday was an aberration but looking at their record since returning to DIII shows a very bad football program. 

My recollection was McMurry had a solid football program prior to their aborted move to DII.  In fact, looking at their record in 2012 and 2013, they competed well against DII opponents.  Anyways, just curious about the rational for their attempted move, and subsequent reversal, to DII and how McMurry's football program has gotten to where it is right now.

[Ralph Turner]

Question about McMurry.  Does anyone have any insight that they can provide as to McMurry's decision to transition to DII and then reverse course?  I ask because the multiple moves appear to have been a disaster for their football team.  This past Saturday, McMurry looked bad and defeated from the kickoff against TLU.  Frankly, the game was over before the first quarter ended (TLU was up 28 - 0 in the first quarter and 44 - 0 at half).  Maybe last Saturday was an aberration but looking at their record since returning to DIII shows a very bad football program. 

My recollection was McMurry had a solid football program prior to their aborted move to DII.  In fact, looking at their record in 2012 and 2013, they competed well against DII opponents.  Anyways, just curious about the rational for their attempted move, and subsequent reversal, to DII and how McMurry's football program has gotten to where it is right now.

McMurry was a solid football program in the late 1990's when Case Keenum's father was head coach. He lost his defensive coordinator to colon cancer and the offensive coordinator went to Louisiana College. That devastated the program. The program struggled through 2 coaching changes until McMurry hired Hal Mumme after he was fired at New Mexico State. Those "4 good years" were under Coach Mumme 2009 to 2012. The decision to go to D-2 was a strategic decision by the administration to go after a different type of student. To my knowledge, the hiring of Coach Mumme and the move to D-2 were "coinciding" occurrences. NCAA consultants hired by McMurry said the move to D-2 would accomplish the goals of the administration.

[TLU02SA]

Question about McMurry.  Does anyone have any insight that they can provide as to McMurry's decision to transition to DII and then reverse course?  I ask because the multiple moves appear to have been a disaster for their football team.  This past Saturday, McMurry looked bad and defeated from the kickoff against TLU.  Frankly, the game was over before the first quarter ended (TLU was up 28 - 0 in the first quarter and 44 - 0 at half).  Maybe last Saturday was an aberration but looking at their record since returning to DIII shows a very bad football program. 

My recollection was McMurry had a solid football program prior to their aborted move to DII.  In fact, looking at their record in 2012 and 2013, they competed well against DII opponents.  Anyways, just curious about the rational for their attempted move, and subsequent reversal, to DII and how McMurry's football program has gotten to where it is right now.

McMurry was a solid football program in the late 1990's when Case Keenum's father was head coach. He lost his defensive coordinator to colon cancer and the offensive coordinator went to Louisiana College. That devastated the program. The program struggled through 2 coaching changes until McMurry hired Hal Mumme after he was fired at New Mexico State. Those "4 good years" were under Coach Mumme 2009 to 2012. The decision to go to D-2 was a strategic decision by the administration to go after a different type of student. To my knowledge, the hiring of Coach Mumme and the move to D-2 were "coinciding" occurrences. NCAA consultants hired by McMurry said the move to D-2 would accomplish the goals of the administration.

Thanks.  Seems short-sided to justify such a move on a head football coach. [Leaving that preceding sentence for completeness and now realize I didn't read the response as closely as I should have but that doesn't change my sentiment about the unfortunate situation.]    Read some of the articles about their withdrawal of the D2 application and the implication is the move was monetary.  Either they moved back to D3 or they eliminate certain sports.  I really feel bad for the student-athletes in that situation and their current student-athletes, who have experienced the wake of such a decision.

I was a freshman at TLU in 1998 when the football program was restarted.  The football program competed at the DIII level while the rest of TLU athletics competed at the NAIA DI/NCAA DII level.  At the end of that academic year ('98-'99), TLU made the decision to move from NAIA DI/NCCA D2 to D3 and, obviously, eliminated athletic scholarships.  That decision was not popular with student-athletes, who had been recruited to TLU with, in part, athletic scholarships.  Several athletes transferred, several stayed.  It was a difficult time for the athletic department and student-athletes in particular.  Rough position to put 18 - 22 year olds in.

[Ralph Turner]

Please do not get the impression that hiring Coach Mumme and the move to D-2 were joined (at least that was not my impression.) The strategic move to D-2 was being studied when Coach Mumme was fired at NMSU.

I cannot discuss Coach Mumme's depature.  However, the move to D-2 was to go after a different type of student from different high schools.

McMurry is very much a first generation school. Its student body is ethnically diverse reflecting the ethnic groups indigenous to Texas.

[TLU02SA]

Please do not get the impression that hiring Coach Mumme and the move to D-2 were joined (at least that was not my impression.) The strategic move to D-2 was being studied when Coach Mumme was fired at NMSU.

I cannot discuss Coach Mumme's depature.  However, the move to D-2 was to go after a different type of student from different high schools.

McMurry is very much a first generation school. Its student body is ethnically diverse reflecting the ethnic groups indigenous to Texas.

Realized that is not what you are saying and I changed my response with brackets.  I was just surprised by McMurry's performance on Saturday.  It was not what I expected.  TLU played very well and I don't want to take away from that.  I just never understood the moves by McMurry and it appears they are experiencing a difficult period as a result of those decisions.

[umhb2001]

Well here we are the week everyone looks forward too.  For me it has been four years (son is a senior this year) of looking at the wrong end of the score when it comes to the Cru (ya I know we won the first game in 2015, but we ended that year at the hands of UMHB). 

First let's look at the ETBU game and don't get me wrong we played really well, but as soon as our coaches figured out there was zero run game from the tigers, we literally dropped 7 and 8 into coverage and it was over.  We all know that that is NOT going to be the case Saturday, UMHB will be too balanced to load one over the other.  I just want to say that Baca is a heck of a competitor, tough and it did not go unnoticed, always like watching competitors on the field.... 

Now for the Cru faithful, you have always been friendly and respectful through the years and that is appreciated.  Just looking for some friendly conversation this week, it is really the only time I get on the boards because we can't usually get any friendly banter with other teams. 

Here is my opinion thus far of the Cowboys.
Special teams
Kick off coverage has been shaky at best, we seem to try and kick to a corner around the five yard line, which I get trying box things in, but it has resulted in several kicks that went out of bounds and/or we have given up too big of a return.  However if there is a little help from the wind we have no problem kicking out of the end zone.
PAT/FG kicker has a very strong leg, seems to have improved over the past couple of games, but has had some misses early on that can come back to haunt us in close games.
Punt (well we haven't had to punt that often, so hard to analyze), could be a problem because we haven't seen a lot of live action.  The punts we have had to make have been killed inside the ten which can prove to be huge field advantage wise. 
Kick return has been solid
Punt return early in the season we had some muffs, but seem to have cleaned that up considerably and have had some big returns, interested to know how the Cru punt has been, in years past you have always done a great job of punting away from our punt returner negating any return.

Defense
Strong against the run, have had some busts in coverage in the first couple of games (this has me scared to death this weekend).
I think we have had too many careless penalties, I like being aggressive and just football mean, but do not hurt the team with careless personal foul penalties. 

Offense
Looking great, but lets be honest here too we have been great every year except when we play the Cru, we HAVE to stay away from the pic 6.  If memory serves me correctly we have given up a pic six the past two seasons and both of those games ended fairly close in score. 
Big question is Hemphill, he did leave with an injury against ETBU, but I do not have a clue as to how serious it is.  Our back ups backs are good, but come on we are talking about the preseason offensive MVP that has been averaging 200 plus yards per game so far.   

Love to hear some analysis of the Cru, I know you have dominated every game so far, are there any concerns?  I have tried to look back at previous posts, but seems to depend on who is posting. 

Cautiously optimistic about Saturday, but we no doubt are going to have play near perfect to have a chance.

Glad to see an HSU poster on here. I wish it was more often, and I wish there were more. I'm not sure how to get more information out about this arena, but it needs to get out.

Because UMHB has played 3 teams that are pretty weak, few holes have been seen. The first two games, against very porous defenses, we ran very well with our remade offensive line under the direction of a new Oline coach. I understand he took the Oline back to the basics. This has shown to improve the defense of the QB as we have not given up many if any sacks. The issue has been running against stronger defenses. Perhaps it's the loading of the box, but maybe it is the tougher schemes the Oline is seeing, but they aren't getting it done against stronger D's. We have to be able to run.

Of course, last year, a whole was the QB. This year, that is not the case. Our QB play has been very good. Good throws, strong arms, and calm under pressure. There has been some zeroing in on WR's, but it hasn't hurt us...yet.

Defensively, I'm not sure there have been many issues. The linebacker corps has been good even though we lost our leading tackler. With guys like Haston Adams, Ajay Fanene, and Tedrick Smith for the past few years, we have been spoiled. We haven't had A guy that we could rely on to fill those holes, but they are beginning to step up.

In the secondary, we are very good, but we seem to always give up plays in the middle. CB's and Safeties are LEGIT. They are ball hawks, bring the hit, and can take it back at any time.

Special teams is very good when you look at Kickoff, Kickoff return, Punting, and punt return. With two 4.3 40 guys returning the football, it almost makes you forget about Bryce Wilkerson, if that is even possible. The weak spot is the kickers. They kick off well, but they are Freshman that aren't great at PAT's and FG's. That really needs to get better.

That is pretty much all I can think to talk about. I feel like I've been fair in my assessment. Is it Saturday yet?

[Ralph Turner]

Please do not get the impression that hiring Coach Mumme and the move to D-2 were joined (at least that was not my impression.) The strategic move to D-2 was being studied when Coach Mumme was fired at NMSU.

I cannot discuss Coach Mumme's departure.  However, the move to D-2 was to go after a different type of student from different high schools.

McMurry is very much a first generation school. Its student body is ethnically diverse reflecting the ethnic groups indigenous to Texas.

Realized that is not what you are saying and I changed my response with brackets.  I was just surprised by McMurry's performance on Saturday.  It was not what I expected.  TLU played very well and I don't want to take away from that.  I just never understood the moves by McMurry and it appears they are experiencing a difficult period as a result of those decisions.

+1!