FB: American Southwest Conference

[UMHB03]

So who do we think is coming to Belton?(

We should get the softest opponent available after the murderers row the committee saddled us with last year, but knowing them, we'll probably end up getting a ranked team like Redlands or Berry in the 1st round.

I called it. The committee couldn't bring itself to give us a cupcake in the 1st round even after the travel rule was changed.

Once they decided to limit the number of flights, Redlands was the only option.  Couldn't even send Linfield because Redlands can't rematch Chapman in round 1....


From the d3football.com  bracket page:  Redlands, which is likely to be one of the top four teams in the West Region when the final regional rankings are released, does not get a home game, and gets shipped out to play the defending national champion, Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"It was not the original proposal," said Catanzaro. "I can tell that we really wanted to have Redlands host a game out there this year. ... We tried, and that was a no-go with the NCAA."

Apparently the NCAA was too clueless to realize that the right pairing could have resulted in a Redlands/Chapman matchup in the 2nd round, and saved them on a flight.

Catanzaro talks about this in our interview with him on the next podcast, but basically, the answer is, we would have loved to do that, but we tried to do that in Texas a couple years ago and it didn't work out, so we can't budget on it.

So I'm assuming that it must be cheaper to fly Redlands to Texas than to fly somone like Wartburg out to California due to the added distance? I don't fly much, so I don't know.

[wally_wabash]

So who do we think is coming to Belton?(

We should get the softest opponent available after the murderers row the committee saddled us with last year, but knowing them, we'll probably end up getting a ranked team like Redlands or Berry in the 1st round.

I called it. The committee couldn't bring itself to give us a cupcake in the 1st round even after the travel rule was changed.

Once they decided to limit the number of flights, Redlands was the only option.  Couldn't even send Linfield because Redlands can't rematch Chapman in round 1....


From the d3football.com  bracket page:  Redlands, which is likely to be one of the top four teams in the West Region when the final regional rankings are released, does not get a home game, and gets shipped out to play the defending national champion, Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"It was not the original proposal," said Catanzaro. "I can tell that we really wanted to have Redlands host a game out there this year. ... We tried, and that was a no-go with the NCAA."

Apparently the NCAA was too clueless to realize that the right pairing could have resulted in a Redlands/Chapman matchup in the 2nd round, and saved them on a flight.

Catanzaro talks about this in our interview with him on the next podcast, but basically, the answer is, we would have loved to do that, but we tried to do that in Texas a couple years ago and it didn't work out, so we can't budget on it.

So I'm assuming that it must be cheaper to fly Redlands to Texas than to fly somone like Wartburg out to California due to the added distance? I don't fly much, so I don't know.

Having just booked to Houston for the championship, I can assure you it isn't cheap to fly from the inland empire to Texas. 

[QB Jock Itch]

Line them up and let's get it on. Doesn't really matter what or how the NCAA come to their decision if you want to go home the Walnut n Bronze you've got to beat the guys next across the field. Whoever it might be.

Some interesting numbers for the Cru's 1st round matchup.
1. UMHB has the 3rd best scoring offense and scoring defense.
2. Redlands is #1 in the country in turnover margin with UMHB in 2nd.
3. Anthony Avila (UMHB) is #1 in FG per game.
4. Khore Day (Redlands) is 3rd best in punt returns.
5. Redlands are 4th best w/ rush defense (51.5 yrds per gm)
6. The Cru is 4th w/ total defense

Could be a fun matchup. The new season begins with only 32 teams still playing. Let's go CRU!!

[DFWCrufan]

2019 Cru bracket show

https://twitter.com/MandyKnight_TV/status/1196196872341327874?s=20

First into the Cruthdral... Redlands.

[MUC57]

There are two things as predictable as the sun rising- the selection committee putting as many obstacles in UMHB's path as possible, and the selection committee putting as few as possible in Mount Unions. It's actually comical at this point.

Speaking as a nonpartisan here, totally agree.  The West #2 in the first round?  Total BS.  Go crush their butts. (PS: Did you hear Catanzaro wax poetic about Mount's awesomeness on the broadcast?  Embarrassing.)

Give it a rest! Mount Union earned those accolades.
How's YOUR team doing?

[SW66]

It really is getting to the point to where we need to rename the D3 playoffs. We could call them " The What Our Budget Allows 4 the South". Or TWOBAFTS for short. Sure seems that because we live on the D3 island that it is always skewed against us. I think I liked the D3 playoff projection bracket better and it for once had us playing some different teams.

[MonroviaCat]

So who do we think is coming to Belton?(

We should get the softest opponent available after the murderers row the committee saddled us with last year, but knowing them, we'll probably end up getting a ranked team like Redlands or Berry in the 1st round.

I called it. The committee couldn't bring itself to give us a cupcake in the 1st round even after the travel rule was changed.

Once they decided to limit the number of flights, Redlands was the only option.  Couldn't even send Linfield because Redlands can't rematch Chapman in round 1....


From the d3football.com  bracket page:  Redlands, which is likely to be one of the top four teams in the West Region when the final regional rankings are released, does not get a home game, and gets shipped out to play the defending national champion, Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"It was not the original proposal," said Catanzaro. "I can tell that we really wanted to have Redlands host a game out there this year. ... We tried, and that was a no-go with the NCAA."

Apparently the NCAA was too clueless to realize that the right pairing could have resulted in a Redlands/Chapman matchup in the 2nd round, and saved them on a flight.

Catanzaro talks about this in our interview with him on the next podcast, but basically, the answer is, we would have loved to do that, but we tried to do that in Texas a couple years ago and it didn't work out, so we can't budget on it.

So I'm assuming that it must be cheaper to fly Redlands to Texas than to fly somone like Wartburg out to California due to the added distance? I don't fly much, so I don't know.

If they had flown someone else to Redlands, who else could MHB play without adding another flight?

[justafan12]

It really is getting to the point to where we need to rename the D3 playoffs. We could call them " The What Our Budget Allows 4 the South". Or TWOBAFTS for short. Sure seems that because we live on the D3 island that it is always skewed against us. I think I liked the D3 playoff projection bracket better and it for once had us playing some different teams.

The travel budget for D3 championships is always a cluster at best.  Whatever is the cheapest way for the NCAA to complete the task is always the trump card.  It's like an after thought to them.  D3 to the NCAA is like an old school superintendent once said about cheerleaders, "I know I have to have them, I just don't want to know anything about them."

[HSUCowboy2015]

The bracket is definitely not ideal for MHB, but as we have all learned in the past "it is what it is". I think the committee did it's best with what they had to work with. I would have liked some of the other power houses to be on the right side of the bracket though. Do we see any type of change in the future with this, or does everyone think it'll continue to be like this for the foreseeable future?

Good luck to the Crusaders. Please beat everyone by more than one point so you make the other ASC purple school look good 

[DFWCrufan]

There are two things as predictable as the sun rising- the selection committee putting as many obstacles in UMHB's path as possible, and the selection committee putting as few as possible in Mount Unions. It's actually comical at this point.

Speaking as a nonpartisan here, totally agree.  The West #2 in the first round?  Total BS.  Go crush their butts. (PS: Did you hear Catanzaro wax poetic about Mount's awesomeness on the broadcast?  Embarrassing.)

Give it a rest! Mount Union earned those accolades.
How's YOUR team doing?

Actually If you look at this objectively, for me anyway, I don't see any cupcake strolls for anyone for the most part, I look forward to this tourney, it's an interesting set of pods. Maybe it would seem the south get's abused but it can be said it's due to geography, not personality, and that is just life. Ruckup! pad up and let the bloodbaths begin!

[SW66]

Well maybe they could get one of those D1 schools to lend us their private jets for a weekend to fly a little cheaper. I'm sure most large schools have one.

[Etchglow]

Maybe the NCAA should open up a gofundme so they can afford another flight or two ;-), everyone else is doing it lol.  I'm ready to watch some playoff football though.  Besides a few miscues the last few games the Cru looks to be hitting their stride on offense and defense. 

[SW66]

Looking better but need to be able to punch it in when they get on the goal line. Been getting stopped way to often down there.

[Toby Taff]

Looking better but need to be able to punch it in when they get on the goal line. Been getting stopped way to often down there.

I agree, but having a weapon like Avila means more often than not points for us when a lot of teams are punting.
I like this bracket. Took me a minute to get there but i got there. UMU has a test coming if chalk holds, UMHB has a test (or 3) coming as well if they want to make it back to Shenandoah. No free rides in this bracket

[Etchglow]

Looking better but need to be able to punch it in when they get on the goal line. Been getting stopped way to often down there.

I agree, but having a weapon like Avila means more often than not points for us when a lot of teams are punting.
I like this bracket. Took me a minute to get there but i got there. UMU has a test coming if chalk holds, UMHB has a test (or 3) coming as well if they want to make it back to Shenandoah. No free rides in this bracket

Yep, Avila has been amazing this year.  The goal line stuff will improve now that we have found a power back in Theriot.

BTW, Tyler Jones is back making highlight videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=walFo5g4W5s