FB: American Southwest Conference

[crufootball]

Suddenly, the lights look super dark in Wisconsin.

Yeah, that is strange... Almost like they have underexposed the camera. 

The self proclaimed #6 returner in the nation hasn't seen any action in the first half against Wisconsin Platteville.

Hey now, it was from some random twitter account .  I don't know him from joe dirt, but I've honestly never heard Coach Fred talk that way about a player.  Honestly, I feel like he has a really good PR department when (pending him doing anything tonight) he has only caught one pass and returned two kicks in his entire career...

I know. I get it. I wished for all the hype that he would have gotten a chance. He is a good kid with some skill. How much skill?? Remains to be seen as he hasn't actually played. So we'll see. Hopefully he gets a shot.

I do hope he gets a shot to at least play some, just to see the speed he must posses. I watched about half of the ETBU game and they seemed to have very little shuffling when it came to their receivers, but with as well as they played perhaps there will be some games when they shuffle people out a big more.

Raw speed is hard to quantify.  Obviously, he's done a ton of working out and stuff but the latest #'s I've seen (from TFRRS.com) put his career best 60 time .25 seconds behind Aaron Sims's and his best 100 time almost a full second behind (10.57 vs 11.53)  granted, those times were run years apart for each of them and Sims's was run pre-ACL. 

On another note, maybe no game notes anymore now that John left?  Or maybe I'm impatient lol...

Well I am by no means a track person but I take the fact that he did run to some extent on the Texas A&M track that he has at least some decent track speed. That doesn't mean he will be fast on a football field but I would like to see it.

As for game notes, they were made and put on the schedule page but a story wasn't posted.

https://cruathletics.com/documents/2021/9/2/FB_GAME_NOTES_Sept_4_2021_Simpson_.pdf

[Etchglow]

Suddenly, the lights look super dark in Wisconsin.

Yeah, that is strange... Almost like they have underexposed the camera. 

The self proclaimed #6 returner in the nation hasn't seen any action in the first half against Wisconsin Platteville.

Hey now, it was from some random twitter account .  I don't know him from joe dirt, but I've honestly never heard Coach Fred talk that way about a player.  Honestly, I feel like he has a really good PR department when (pending him doing anything tonight) he has only caught one pass and returned two kicks in his entire career...

I know. I get it. I wished for all the hype that he would have gotten a chance. He is a good kid with some skill. How much skill?? Remains to be seen as he hasn't actually played. So we'll see. Hopefully he gets a shot.

I do hope he gets a shot to at least play some, just to see the speed he must posses. I watched about half of the ETBU game and they seemed to have very little shuffling when it came to their receivers, but with as well as they played perhaps there will be some games when they shuffle people out a big more.

Raw speed is hard to quantify.  Obviously, he's done a ton of working out and stuff but the latest #'s I've seen (from TFRRS.com) put his career best 60 time .25 seconds behind Aaron Sims's and his best 100 time almost a full second behind (10.57 vs 11.53)  granted, those times were run years apart for each of them and Sims's was run pre-ACL. 

On another note, maybe no game notes anymore now that John left?  Or maybe I'm impatient lol...

Well I am by no means a track person but I take the fact that he did run to some extent on the Texas A&M track that he has at least some decent track speed. That doesn't mean he will be fast on a football field but I would like to see it.

As for game notes, they were made and put on the schedule page but a story wasn't posted.

https://cruathletics.com/documents/2021/9/2/FB_GAME_NOTES_Sept_4_2021_Simpson_.pdf

Thanks! Some interesting things on the roster and 2 deep there. No KJ Miller on the 2 deep, Tommy Bowden on the kick return team, we have 3x receivers over 6'4" on the roster (although two are converted quarterbacks). All in all looks like a loaded roster. Can't wait to watch them in person tomorrow night from the stands. I probably won't even bring my camera...

[Riley Zayas]

[/quote]

Thanks! Some interesting things on the roster and 2 deep there. No KJ Miller on the 2 deep, Tommy Bowden on the kick return team, we have 3x receivers over 6'4" on the roster (although two are converted quarterbacks). All in all looks like a loaded roster. Can't wait to watch them in person tomorrow night from the stands. I probably won't even bring my camera...
[/quote]

Yes it will be interesting to see how the team performs tomorrow. There were a variety of changes to the two-deep this morning, so it appears the coaching staff is still trying to figure out who will play significant snaps tomorrow. Jamaal Hamilton is one newcomer who should see some action early. Former WT A&M and Houston WR was moved to a starting role on the two-deep this morning.

Here's the links to our articles from this week previewing the Simpson College game:

https://truetothecru.com/2021/08/30/you-cant-win-them-all-if-you-dont-win-the-first-one-fredenburg-excited-as-season-opener-draws-near/

https://truetothecru.com/2021/09/03/previewing-the-2021-umhb-football-season-opener-against-simpson-college/

[umhb2001]

Game day!! Let's go, Cru!

[zipmac22]

Lets go Cru...one game at a time all the way to the Natty!

[Etchglow]

Ooh, Howard Payne currently up 33 to 10 on tlu with 3 minutes left in the 3rd

[Etchglow]

Looks like Howard Payne ended up winning 43 to 17?  I didn't expect that...

[cover2]

Anybody know why KJ Miller isn't that playing?  And why he is in a Deion Sanders 49ers jersey while on the sideline?

[umhb2001]

UMHB looks filthy. Lots of answers for the offense against a more than overmatched Simpson. Next week, ETBU.

Southwestern...WOW. Getting their hats handed to them in SoCal.

Coach Fred had stated some discipline for KJ Miller. Two games.

[Etchglow]

UMHB looks filthy. Lots of answers for the offense against a more than overmatched Simpson. Next week, ETBU.

Southwestern...WOW. Getting their hats handed to them in SoCal.

Coach Fred had stated some discipline for KJ Miller. Two games.

Man, I think this was the most complete first game I've seen out of the Cru in recent memory.  I mean, Simpson could have made some bad things look good but I was impressed.  Loved seeing all the different blitzes from the defense instead of the same old defense play after play.  King, Cormier, and Miller all looked like they returned in top form from last year.  Brandon Jordan did a really good job, and Gary Ruckman was his usual dependable self.  Tommy Bowden looked really good too.  That dropped TD pass was an amazing throw.  Loved seeing Ryan Redding getting some playing time as well.  Dude has been a trooper and stuck around behind lots of really good QB's.  It is crazy that we used five different RB's and Aphonso Thomas didn't even make it on the field who coach and the two deep had starting.  Lastly, gotta give the D a ton of credit limiting them to -9 rushing yards :O.

Bring on ETBU next week! 

[Riley Zayas]

UMHB looks filthy. Lots of answers for the offense against a more than overmatched Simpson. Next week, ETBU.

Southwestern...WOW. Getting their hats handed to them in SoCal.

Coach Fred had stated some discipline for KJ Miller. Two games.

Man, I think this was the most complete first game I've seen out of the Cru in recent memory.  I mean, Simpson could have made some bad things look good but I was impressed.  Loved seeing all the different blitzes from the defense instead of the same old defense play after play.  King, Cormier, and Miller all looked like they returned in top form from last year.  Brandon Jordan did a really good job, and Gary Ruckman was his usual dependable self.  Tommy Bowden looked really good too.  That dropped TD pass was an amazing throw.  Loved seeing Ryan Redding getting some playing time as well.  Dude has been a trooper and stuck around behind lots of really good QB's.  It is crazy that we used five different RB's and Aphonso Thomas didn't even make it on the field who coach and the two deep had starting.  Lastly, gotta give the D a ton of credit limiting them to -9 rushing yards :O.

Bring on ETBU next week!

Yeah it was a great showing for the Cru. Just a complete game overall. The secondary will need to be ready for ETBU's passing attack next week but the most impressive thing for me on that side of the ball was the defensive line. They got into the backfield on just about every play, and was the biggest reason for Simpson's limited offense. King looked good at QB. Very accurate, and great reads. Uses the RPO very well. That was something some of the national media was concerned with regarding UMHB this season, but everyone looked in sync on offense.

Here's the game story from True To The Cru with quotes from Pete Fredenburg:
https://truetothecru.com/2021/09/04/umhb-football-races-out-of-the-gates-opens-season-with-84-6-win-over-simpson-college/

[Reverendbiker]

Hard to tell if the Cru are that good or Simpson was just that bad.  Their QB is a senior who has been pretty decent, but the poor guy was running for his life on just about every play.  Larry Harmon was throwing some defensive looks at them that I've never seen before and was sending in LB's or a safety very often; that left us a bit vulnerable to some pass routes, but it completely stifled the Simpson running game.  So the defense looked just as awesome as it always does.

What surprised me was the strength of the offense.  Just one punt, and that was after a series of kneel-downs at the end of the game.  Simpson did not stop a single drive.  This OLine is something special, and they are deep. Gary Ruckman can be an All-American TE. The receivers may be the best overall unit in Cru history.  4 (or maybe 5) big, fast RB's who could start anywhere else in the ASC.  Kyle King looks to be the real deal at QB, and Tommy Bowden would have been 7/8 passing if not for an open drop in the end zone.  Now that brings up an interesting what-if:  Arguably, two of the best athletes on the team (KJ Miller and Aphonso Thomas) didn't play Saturday.  Miller will miss another game, but Thomas will be back if he clears Covid protocol this week.  What difference will their presence make/

ETBU will be no pushover, and they are very confident after their win over a tough Wisconsin team.  And they gave the Cru all they could handle last spring before dropping a close one. But there are two reasons I think the Cru will prevail: 1) This is nowhere near the same UMHB team that played in Marshall last March and 2) The UW-Platteville defense can't hold a candle to the Cru. 

Just my $0.02

[umhb2001]

Hard to tell if the Cru are that good or Simpson was just that bad.  Their QB is a senior who has been pretty decent, but the poor guy was running for his life on just about every play.  Larry Harmon was throwing some defensive looks at them that I've never seen before and was sending in LB's or a safety very often; that left us a bit vulnerable to some pass routes, but it completely stifled the Simpson running game.  So the defense looked just as awesome as it always does.

What surprised me was the strength of the offense.  Just one punt, and that was after a series of kneel-downs at the end of the game.  Simpson did not stop a single drive.  This OLine is something special, and they are deep. Gary Ruckman can be an All-American TE. The receivers may be the best overall unit in Cru history.  4 (or maybe 5) big, fast RB's who could start anywhere else in the ASC.  Kyle King looks to be the real deal at QB, and Tommy Bowden would have been 7/8 passing if not for an open drop in the end zone.  Now that brings up an interesting what-if:  Arguably, two of the best athletes on the team (KJ Miller and Aphonso Thomas) didn't play Saturday.  Miller will miss another game, but Thomas will be back if he clears Covid protocol this week.  What difference will their presence make/

ETBU will be no pushover, and they are very confident after their win over a tough Wisconsin team.  And they gave the Cru all they could handle last spring before dropping a close one. But there are two reasons I think the Cru will prevail: 1) This is nowhere near the same UMHB team that played in Marshall last March and 2) The UW-Platteville defense can't hold a candle to the Cru. 

Just my $0.02

Simpson is definitely not the caliber of teams we have played in this slot previously. That being said, there have been plenty of times whether in or out of conference, when we have underplayed.

The fact that we came out against a weak opponent and stayed at a high level from start to finish says a lot.

I watched the ETBU/UWP game. ETBU is going to be one dimensional. Passing will be their key and our speed will help to negate their success. Their D will be good, but they gave up 30+ to Platte; do I think we will do worse? No. I think we score in the 50s and hold them under 20.

It will be fun.

[Etchglow]

Hard to tell if the Cru are that good or Simpson was just that bad.  Their QB is a senior who has been pretty decent, but the poor guy was running for his life on just about every play.  Larry Harmon was throwing some defensive looks at them that I've never seen before and was sending in LB's or a safety very often; that left us a bit vulnerable to some pass routes, but it completely stifled the Simpson running game.  So the defense looked just as awesome as it always does.

What surprised me was the strength of the offense.  Just one punt, and that was after a series of kneel-downs at the end of the game.  Simpson did not stop a single drive.  This OLine is something special, and they are deep. Gary Ruckman can be an All-American TE. The receivers may be the best overall unit in Cru history.  4 (or maybe 5) big, fast RB's who could start anywhere else in the ASC.  Kyle King looks to be the real deal at QB, and Tommy Bowden would have been 7/8 passing if not for an open drop in the end zone.  Now that brings up an interesting what-if:  Arguably, two of the best athletes on the team (KJ Miller and Aphonso Thomas) didn't play Saturday.  Miller will miss another game, but Thomas will be back if he clears Covid protocol this week.  What difference will their presence make/

ETBU will be no pushover, and they are very confident after their win over a tough Wisconsin team.  And they gave the Cru all they could handle last spring before dropping a close one. But there are two reasons I think the Cru will prevail: 1) This is nowhere near the same UMHB team that played in Marshall last March and 2) The UW-Platteville defense can't hold a candle to the Cru. 

Just my $0.02

Simpson is definitely not the caliber of teams we have played in this slot previously. That being said, there have been plenty of times whether in or out of conference, when we have underplayed.

The fact that we came out against a weak opponent and stayed at a high level from start to finish says a lot.

I watched the ETBU/UWP game. ETBU is going to be one dimensional. Passing will be their key and our speed will help to negate their success. Their D will be good, but they gave up 30+ to Platte; do I think we will do worse? No. I think we score in the 50s and hold them under 20.

It will be fun.

That is kind of what I'm hoping honestly. I feel like we played pretty down in the spring from where we normally play. Plus, that spring game in Marshall would've never been close if Avila hadn't had an uncharacteristically bad game.

I'd love to see the meme set of receivers at least once with Brandon Jordan, Jackson Tingler, Jackson Tingley (both listed at wr for the Simpson game), and Gary Ruckman all lined up together. 6-6, 6-4, 6-5, and 6-4 would be funny.

[bleedpurple]

The UW-Platteville defense can't hold a candle to the Cru. 

Just my $0.02

I don't see too many understatements when I read the ASC board. But this is definitely an understatement.