FB: American Southwest Conference

[Evergreen14]

Just want to point out I am speculating the current top four ranked teams finish unbeaten. Do you see UMHB and St. Thomas on one side of the bracket and thus could potentially meet in the semifinals in Belton, and Brockport and Mount Union on the other side of the bracket and potentially meeting in the semifinals in Alliance? Pat, your thoughts?

Seems like, and I am assuming here, the committee may not want another UMHB-Brockport semifinal. Travel from Brockport is closest to Alliance. Again, thoughts for debate.

[wally_wabash]

Just want to point out I am speculating the current top four ranked teams finish unbeaten. Do you see UMHB and St. Thomas on one side of the bracket and thus could potentially meet in the semifinals in Belton, and Brockport and Mount Union on the other side of the bracket and potentially meeting in the semifinals in Alliance? Pat, your thoughts?

Seems like, and I am assuming here, the committee may not want another UMHB-Brockport semifinal. Travel from Brockport is closest to Alliance. Again, thoughts for debate.

So, the committee doesn't care who might match up in the semifinals and whether or not they matched up in the semifinals the year before.  That's not a thing that is in play at all. 

If you want to look at the top 4 teams this year and assume that they win out and then assume that they are the top 4 seeds in the tournament, I think they'd be seeded this way:
1- Mount Union
2- UMHB
3- Brockport
4- St. Thomas

And you'd wind up with Mount Union's bracket paired with St. Thomas's bracket and UMHB's bracket paired with Brockport's bracket.  Brockport would be seeded higher here because they went one round further in last year's championship than St. Thomas did.  I don't think they would pair brackets together for travel purposes projecting all the way out to the semifinal round.  Just too many variables at that point. 

But before you get into any of that, Whitewater is certainly in play for a top regional seed as is Frostburg.  We'll have to see how the RROs and SOSs shake out as we get down into November before we can be more certain. 

[MUC57]

You guys from Mary Hardin-Baylor are really getting on my nerves. When I look at NCAA stats, I see you name in lots of places. Don't see Mount Union anywhere. You're winning big time. You just beat a ranked team handily. Mount squeaked by a ranked team. Damn! I'm too old for this! ☠🏈
Oh, and Go Cru and Go Raiders!

[HSUDAD]

Typing through black and blue eyes today haha...what a butt whooping, score was not really indicative overall. 

Before we get to the game, I just want to say as much as I want to hate everything about the Cru, everyone involved with the program just makes it impossible from the ticket window, gate workers, concessions, student union workers, heck even the campus police officer who kept having to tell us to leave the seating during the lightening delay were polite, courteous and overall friendly people.  Hats off to making a visiting team's game day feel welcomed....

As for the game itself I have so many thoughts, I hope to not just end up rambling.  To take a quote from Coach Dennis Green "the Cru are who we think they are"!!!  Totally dominant in all phases, not worth arguing whether the fumbles and one pic by the Cru were self inflicted mistakes are just good plays by the Cowboy defense.  You guys beat us handily and the score could have been worse. 

Things that need to change if there is a next time and this is mostly frustration talking (I love our team and love our coaches, there is no place I would rather my son be playing).

OC has to make in game adjustments, I just don't see it happening when we face tough defenses. 
We cannot punt the ball to those threats the number of times that we did, punt it out of bounds if necessary. 
Have to find a way to get Childress more quality touches, be more creative like when he was a freshman. 

These are just my honest opinions, if any HSU faithful sees anything differently please let me know.  I really don't like second guessing our coaches and can admit if I am wrong. I just want to say again there is no place my son would rather be and no place I would rather him be.  These coaches have done more for him than we can ever repay and in the end that is the important thing.   

Big question mark that has been asked:

Would Hemphill make a difference, maybe/maybe not.  This past Saturday, I doubt it, we just were not in it offensively (credit to the Cru D),  I guess there is only one way to find out, get him healthy, don't rush him back, and win the rest of our games. 

All this to say, visited with my kid yesterday and the pulse of the team is just fine, lots to learn from the film.  This is not our first time to lose to the Cru and we have never folded up tent before.  I don't expect this team to either.  Sul Ross may be in for a long day this Saturday. 

[MUC57]

UMHB
.
Just read the post from HSUDAD. Aside from the actual game, he speaks of the friendliness of the UMHB people. I have heard this same comment numerous times.It's really nice to hear this. In the grand scheme of things, we only talk about football. The Crusaders chose to be : statesmen, diplomats, good hosts and just plain friends. You can't beat that with a stick (old expression from my era). Great tributE TO UMHB. GOod to see a classy program at any level. Go Cru! ☠🏈

[GillCJ1]

Hey y'all!

I haven't been on these boards since last season (or maybe off-season, I forget).  It's been a very busy couple of months for me.  I've of course kept up with the Cru and watched most of the games, whether it be in-person or streaming on my phone.  I'm very, very happy with the changes I've seen in the offense (lots of credit goes to the O-line which has improved greatly, and the embarrassment of riches at the QB position).  The defense is going to work like they always do.  Love what I've seen from the corners.  As for special teams, Miller and Sims are so electric and fun to watch.  The kicking game.... well, I won't talk about the kicking game.  I think we all know that's the weak link right now.  It hasn't been an issue yet, but I'd sure like to see some consistency there going forward.

I doubt I'll be active much this season, but it's always fun to get on and see so much passion for d3 sports.  Happy to see more activity from HSU on here, too!  We definitely need some fans from the other ASC schools around here.

#gocru

[Evergreen14]

Thank you for your wisdom and insight, wallywabash. It is going to be a fun second-half of the season and an amazing playoff!

[CowboyAlum261]

Typing through black and blue eyes today haha...what a butt whooping, score was not really indicative overall. 

Before we get to the game, I just want to say as much as I want to hate everything about the Cru, everyone involved with the program just makes it impossible from the ticket window, gate workers, concessions, student union workers, heck even the campus police officer who kept having to tell us to leave the seating during the lightening delay were polite, courteous and overall friendly people.  Hats off to making a visiting team's game day feel welcomed....

As for the game itself I have so many thoughts, I hope to not just end up rambling.  To take a quote from Coach Dennis Green "the Cru are who we think they are"!!!  Totally dominant in all phases, not worth arguing whether the fumbles and one pic by the Cru were self inflicted mistakes are just good plays by the Cowboy defense.  You guys beat us handily and the score could have been worse. 

Things that need to change if there is a next time and this is mostly frustration talking (I love our team and love our coaches, there is no place I would rather my son be playing).

OC has to make in game adjustments, I just don't see it happening when we face tough defenses. 
We cannot punt the ball to those threats the number of times that we did, punt it out of bounds if necessary. 
Have to find a way to get Childress more quality touches, be more creative like when he was a freshman. 

These are just my honest opinions, if any HSU faithful sees anything differently please let me know.  I really don't like second guessing our coaches and can admit if I am wrong. I just want to say again there is no place my son would rather be and no place I would rather him be.  These coaches have done more for him than we can ever repay and in the end that is the important thing.   

Big question mark that has been asked:

Would Hemphill make a difference, maybe/maybe not.  This past Saturday, I doubt it, we just were not in it offensively (credit to the Cru D),  I guess there is only one way to find out, get him healthy, don't rush him back, and win the rest of our games. 

All this to say, visited with my kid yesterday and the pulse of the team is just fine, lots to learn from the film.  This is not our first time to lose to the Cru and we have never folded up tent before.  I don't expect this team to either.  Sul Ross may be in for a long day this Saturday.

I agree to some extent about the game plan so far this season. We've been hit hard with injuries and I just don't think we've really ever made a great transition from the Marc Reed offense to the Ty Hooper offense. Both are excellent players but the type of game they play is so different. We need more quick developing pass plays to take advantage of Hoop's arm, and not put him in a position where he has to scramble around. We've got to get the run game going consistently as well, Zai Zai was the thunder to Jaquan's lightening, and we just haven't struck a great balance since Jaquan has been out. I have full confidence that our coaching staff will make the necessary adjustments and get the boys in the right positions to make plays. Games like we had this week are huge eye-openers, and at least now we have time to fix our problems before the postseason begins.

[umhb2001]

To you HSU posters, it does seem to me that the offense shut down in the third. It seemed as though they quit trying. I hope HSU can win out. We'll see what happens.

[HSUCowboy2015]

To you HSU posters, it does seem to me that the offense shut down in the third. It seemed as though they quit trying. I hope HSU can win out. We'll see what happens.

I think that is the first nice thing I've heard you say aout HSU  . Thanks, yeah we just never adjusted to what y'all were giving us. Seems to be a common issue when we get into big games. Last time I remember our offense doing big things in a big game was 2015 when we beat UMHB at our place, just to turn around with the same game plan a few weeks later to get beat. I hope we figure it out. 

[DFWCrufan]

You guys from Mary Hardin-Baylor are really getting on my nerves. When I look at NCAA stats, I see you name in lots of places. Don't see Mount Union anywhere. You're winning big time. You just beat a ranked team handily. Mount squeaked by a ranked team. Damn! I'm too old for this! ☠🏈
Oh, and Go Cru and Go Raiders!

Stop it MUC, you know that if, and I'm not yet saying so, but IF UMU sees UMHB in the bowl it will be a hell of a game... You'r trying to set us up huh      Forgive me but I am not taking anything nor anyone for granted.

[txtiger1]

Fully believe that if ETBU switched up its garbage offensive scheme they could win out and even give UMHB a run like last year. But, I don't think thats happening based on the HPU game so oh wellllllllll. UMHB looks like a national champion from where im sitting.

[crufootball]

Fully believe that if ETBU switched up its garbage offensive scheme they could win out and even give UMHB a run like last year. But, I don't think thats happening based on the HPU game so oh wellllllllll. UMHB looks like a national champion from where im sitting.

In looking at the box scores it doesn't appear the offense is the problem, what is it you don't like?

[HSUCowboy2015]

Fully believe that if ETBU switched up its garbage offensive scheme they could win out and even give UMHB a run like last year. But, I don't think thats happening based on the HPU game so oh wellllllllll. UMHB looks like a national champion from where im sitting.

Not sure what you're complaining about offensively. The defense is the problem, they cannot stop a nose bleed. That has been ETBU's issue forever now. They are very well respected on the offensive side of the ball. I don't understand your comment. You can't call an offense garbage when they are averaging about 42 points per game. Issue is the defense which is giving up about 37 ppg.

[HSUCowboy2015]

I would wonder.. if Whitworth takes the NWC and HSU gets a pool C.. perhaps that could be their first match?

It would work for me.

I think that if we had a poll among the HSU fans, all considering that the Stagg Bowl 2018 will be in the north Houston suburb of Shenandoah, would Cowboy fans opt for being in the opposite bracket from UMHB with the very remote chance of a rematch, or maybe getting 1 playoff game (road or home) before the rematch with The CRU?

I would love to be in the opposite bracket off UMHB. I think given the opportunity, we could do some damage in the postseason if we didn't run into the train that never stops named UMHB. With that being said, I hope Whitworth and Linfield both win out along with us and UMHB. That would give the Northwest two teams in to play, then you have the Cali team that usually plays either UMHB or Linfield. That would force another decision to be made by the committee and I think we do have their respect. Just my perspective, anyone else have any thoughts that allows HSU to play a first round playoff game against someone other than UMHB or Linfield? haha

Linfield guy chiming in here.  I don't see us making the playoffs this year.  Even if we win out, I don't think we will get (or really will deserve) one of the few precious pool C spots.  That being said, I see the SCIAC champ making their annual death march (of recent years) to Belton and HSU matches up against Whitworth (probably in Spokane if Whitworth remains unbeaten).  Then HSU and MHB go at it again in round 2 (if they both win in round 1) because....$$$.  Of course, there are still another 5 weeks or so left for somebody to drop the ball and throw this scenario out the window...

You don't think that Linfield could win out and get in? The loss to the D2 team won't count against yall. If Whitworth stays undefeated I like your chances if the Cats win out. So you think we match up well with Whitworth? I don't know much about them.

Linfield would be an interesting at-large case.  Even though Linfield is not playing to the level that we are accustomed to seeing Linfield play at, I think their SOS is going to be fine thanks to Redlands rolling their way through the SCIAC.  Should Whitworth and Redlands both win out, there's a good chance Linfield gets to be 1-1 vs. RROs, which is good. 

The bugaboo is that the West region is always deep and getting to the top of that at-large pile in that region is hard.  Linfield kind of has to root for Oshkosh to lose again, and for the Tommie/Johnnie loser to lose a second time.  It's a little too blasé to simply say that the loss to Carroll (NAIA, not D2 btw) doesn't count- it is secondary criteria and to the extent that Carroll isn't a top level NAIA team, I don't believe Linfield should get a complete pass for that result), but recency bias may help Linfield there as well (in the instance that say St. John's picks up a week 11 loss to Thomas More- that's going to cost St. John's more than Linfield's Week 2 loss to Carroll).  Also have to keep an eye on the ARC should somebody like Central wind up as a one-loss runner up.  It's a minefield for Linfield to get to the postseason, but I wouldn't count them out just yet.

You're right, my bad. I was thinking of some of the Wisconsin teams when it comes to the D2 opponent. Here's to hoping that Linfield and HSU win out.