FB: American Southwest Conference

[umhb2001]

I'm sorry. I know, just call me Homer Simpson, but to not have KJ Miller or Brandon Jordan on the preseason #1 All America team seems like a major... DOH! I mean, the two number ones were vastly outplayed on the biggest stage last year!

For KJ to not even be mentioned anywhere as a WR is a travesty! I...I just have no words!

Oh well, fuel in the fire, another chip on the shoulder, tack another reason to show up and show out. Go CRU!

In one game, the two guys who had the best returning quarterback in the nation throwing to them outplayed Hardy. Understandable.

What receiver vastly outplayed Ruby on the biggest stage last year?

So if I am understanding you correctly, only WRs who are receiving from sub par QBs should be considered?

Well, our boys got the natty, the ring, and our QB went to the Manning passing academy and compared rings with Stetson Bennett, so we good. We'll take what we got.

[Pat Coleman]

I think what I'm actually saying is that there are a lot of things to considered, especially when you are talking about just one game. Small sample size, no?

Repeating my question: What receiver vastly outplayed Ruby on the biggest stage last year?

[Cowboy2]

As a fan, I watched Ruby play last year about as much as I did Miller/Jordan. I think the argument could be made that Ruby gets more attention from his OC than miller/jordan/Martin in co do/did. UMHB had talent at every position and an OL of big Hogs blocking for the RB. The love was spread statistically. They didn't have to produce every game.

Ruby runs great routs and has the output. Miller is one of the best high point WRs I've seen in a while. I'd say even more so than Jordan, even at his stature.

I think the problem is not in arguing who is the best, but realizing that anyone being acknowledged for a spot on an AA team is an accomplishment in itself. D3 has what, 240-50 programs? So trying to say who is or who isn't the best is arguing apples to apples when someone makes 1st team or 3rd team with the amount of quality players to sift through.

Miller may be more athletically talented, in my opinion than Ruby, but does UMHB miss him or not - and still win by 50 if he's not on the field? Does MU still have the same success without Ruby and the offense running through him? I think not. I think the argument Pat is making is that looking at the entire body of work, Ruby fits the bill for the spot. KJ is still the best returners and WRs in the game and received accolades for that.

[Etchglow]

So I was bored and decided to look at the stats. 

Both Ruby and Miller were their team's respective #1 receivers.  Miller by 21 (76 vs 55) receptions and Ruby by 50 (105 vs 55).  Mount Union threw the ball WAY more than UMHB with 390 receptions compared to UMHB's 242.  Also, UMHB's was with one more game.  The interesting thing comes when you start looking at game logs.  There is a noticeable change in play distribution after the Birmingham-Southern game for UMHB.  Before the Linfield game UMHB was, as always, run heavy averaging 43 rushes for 241 yards and 14 passes for 231 yards per game.  For Linfield, Whitewater, and North Central that average gets closer to normal with 31 rushes for 119 yards and 24 passes for 396 yards. 

The interesting thing is that Miller caught 35% of all of UMHB's passes vs Ruby's 25%.  But, they threw so many more passes that the overall stats are a wash.  If you take the last 3 UMHB games their numbers are pretty dang similar.  Over the last 3 games of the season Miller was averaging 9.3 receptions for 98 yards vs Ruby's 7.5 receptions for 105 yards.  Miller was used more as an extension of the run game (and I didn't watch any of Ruby's games) so he only averaged 10 yards per catch during that time while Ruby averaged 14 or so. 


Edit: Honestly, it is a wash.  One receiver had the first team QB throwing to him and the other had the second team QB.  Interestingly enough, I had forgotten about Miller missing the first two games of the season last year.

[umhb2001]

As a fan, I watched Ruby play last year about as much as I did Miller/Jordan. I think the argument could be made that Ruby gets more attention from his OC than miller/jordan/Martin in co do/did. UMHB had talent at every position and an OL of big Hogs blocking for the RB. The love was spread statistically. They didn't have to produce every game.

Ruby runs great routs and has the output. Miller is one of the best high point WRs I've seen in a while. I'd say even more so than Jordan, even at his stature.

I think the problem is not in arguing who is the best, but realizing that anyone being acknowledged for a spot on an AA team is an accomplishment in itself. D3 has what, 240-50 programs? So trying to say who is or who isn't the best is arguing apples to apples when someone makes 1st team or 3rd team with the amount of quality players to sift through.

Miller may be more athletically talented, in my opinion than Ruby, but does UMHB miss him or not - and still win by 50 if he's not on the field? Does MU still have the same success without Ruby and the offense running through him? I think not. I think the argument Pat is making is that looking at the entire body of work, Ruby fits the bill for the spot. KJ is still the best returners and WRs in the game and received accolades for that.

I appreciate the feedback, and I agree with you on several points. I think the larger view is that UMHB won the national championship and only the QB and Olineman are listed on the first team. I think that does say a lot about the nature of our team, that you can't pinpoint any one guy, and we still get the job done. Looking at stats, KJ is ranked very close to the two 1st Team guys, beyond that, he outperformed them both in the playoffs, in my opinion, and I think the opinion of a lot of folks who watched, against some great defenses.

Oh well. I appreciate the coverage that Pat and the others give. They definitely dig into the minutia a lot more, so at the end of the day, I can accept their reasoning. Who would I be if I wasn't pulling for my guys?

Have a good one, boys.

[Toby Taff]

As a fan, I watched Ruby play last year about as much as I did Miller/Jordan. I think the argument could be made that Ruby gets more attention from his OC than miller/jordan/Martin in co do/did. UMHB had talent at every position and an OL of big Hogs blocking for the RB. The love was spread statistically. They didn't have to produce every game.

Ruby runs great routs and has the output. Miller is one of the best high point WRs I've seen in a while. I'd say even more so than Jordan, even at his stature.

I think the problem is not in arguing who is the best, but realizing that anyone being acknowledged for a spot on an AA team is an accomplishment in itself. D3 has what, 240-50 programs? So trying to say who is or who isn't the best is arguing apples to apples when someone makes 1st team or 3rd team with the amount of quality players to sift through.

Miller may be more athletically talented, in my opinion than Ruby, but does UMHB miss him or not - and still win by 50 if he's not on the field? Does MU still have the same success without Ruby and the offense running through him? I think not. I think the argument Pat is making is that looking at the entire body of work, Ruby fits the bill for the spot. KJ is still the best returners and WRs in the game and received accolades for that.

I appreciate the feedback, and I agree with you on several points. I think the larger view is that UMHB won the national championship and only the QB and Olineman are listed on the first team. I think that does say a lot about the nature of our team, that you can't pinpoint any one guy, and we still get the job done. Looking at stats, KJ is ranked very close to the two 1st Team guys, beyond that, he outperformed them both in the playoffs, in my opinion, and I think the opinion of a lot of folks who watched, against some great defenses.

Oh well. I appreciate the coverage that Pat and the others give. They definitely dig into the minutia a lot more, so at the end of the day, I can accept their reasoning. Who would I be if I wasn't pulling for my guys?

Have a good one, boys.

The thing for me is that KJ is an All- American. Whether it be at WR or KR, he is an all-american and there aren't many slots to fill. You could argue 1st or 2nd team KR, but either way those are the 2 best in the country. If i were making an AA team with limited spots I probably want to give the same guy 2 spots. KJ was definitely the most dynamic player on the field last year. He made some amazing plays in the return game, receiving, and even passing the ball a few times and in the end was recognized for it as an all america. just a few weeks until we get to watch it again. Can't wait!

[Pat Coleman]

I appreciate the feedback, and I agree with you on several points. I think the larger view is that UMHB won the national championship and only the QB and Olineman are listed on the first team. I think that does say a lot about the nature of our team, that you can't pinpoint any one guy, and we still get the job done.

I think that says simply this: A lot of guys graduated. Six UMHB guys were on the postseason All-America team last year -- and that doesn't even include King, who was only unleashed after the All-Region voting was done.

Meanwhile, I think the Top 25 voters probably fall into some combination of the following:

• UMHB has enough coming back to merit the top spot regardless
• UMHB can be trusted to reload at key positions
• I will vote the defending champ No. 1 the next year until they lose a game

[Etchglow]

Looks like former UMHB running back Melek Hamilton landed at ETBU.

https://goetbutigers.com/sports/football/roster/melek-hamilton/7461

[ksclegal]

This offense is gonna be "scary".



https://twitter.com/frankrossi/status/1560334083783331840?s=10&t=wGk39IpI55xYhGZ3_xH31g

[Riley Zayas]

Looks like former UMHB running back Melek Hamilton landed at ETBU.

https://goetbutigers.com/sports/football/roster/melek-hamilton/7461

He was also at Oklahoma Pandhandle State last year. Had 22 carries for 81 yards in 8 games last season. That's four schools in four years, since he was at Kilgore JC prior to UMHB.

[Pat Coleman]

Here's a list of first-round conference matchups we assembled for a story a couple years ago:

1999 Willamette vs. Pacific Lutheran
2001 Whitworth vs. Pacific Lutheran
2006 Hardin-Simmons vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor
2008 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons
2012 Linfield vs. Pacific Lutheran
2012 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Louisiana College
2013 Linfield vs. Pacific Lutheran
2015 Linfield vs. Whitworth
2015 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons
2018 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons

I know it has to happen but I couldn't help but look at when Mount Union, UWW, and UMHB had to play a conference opponent in the playoffs.

Mount Union
99 - Quarterfinals
2000 - 2ND round
2002 - Semi-finals
2005 - Quarterfinals
2006 - Quarterfinals
2014 - Quarterfinals

UWW
2006 - 2ND round
2015 - Quarterfinals

UMHB
2004 - 2ND round
2006 - 1st round
2008 - 1st round
2011 - 2ND round
2012 - 1st round
2015 - 1st round
2018 - 1st round

Mix that in with the knowledge that the only times it hasn't been the first round, it took those teams (HSU - 2004, McM - 2011) beating Trinity in the first round to kill off the other team in the Texas sub-bracket.

[crufootball]

Here's a list of first-round conference matchups we assembled for a story a couple years ago:

1999 Willamette vs. Pacific Lutheran
2001 Whitworth vs. Pacific Lutheran
2006 Hardin-Simmons vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor
2008 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons
2012 Linfield vs. Pacific Lutheran
2012 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Louisiana College
2013 Linfield vs. Pacific Lutheran
2015 Linfield vs. Whitworth
2015 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons
2018 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons

I know it has to happen but I couldn't help but look at when Mount Union, UWW, and UMHB had to play a conference opponent in the playoffs.

Mount Union
99 - Quarterfinals
2000 - 2ND round
2002 - Semi-finals
2005 - Quarterfinals
2006 - Quarterfinals
2014 - Quarterfinals

UWW
2006 - 2ND round
2015 - Quarterfinals

UMHB
2004 - 2ND round
2006 - 1st round
2008 - 1st round
2011 - 2ND round
2012 - 1st round
2015 - 1st round
2018 - 1st round

Mix that in with the knowledge that the only times it hasn't been the first round, it took those teams (HSU - 2004, McM - 2011) beating Trinity in the first round to kill off the other team in the Texas sub-bracket.

Texas definitely doesn't have an exclusive on non optimal 1st round games, our friends on the west coast get their share of  NWC vs NWC games or NWC/SCIAC games that only happen because of travel cost. As I mentioned I know it has to happen and even support it when that is the only choice but man I get envious at times.

[umhb2001]

UMHB really holding their roster a long time. Most other colleges I've checked have released their '22 roster.

[Riley Zayas]

UMHB really holding their roster a long time. Most other colleges I've checked have released their '22 roster.

Yes, but this is pretty typical. Last year, the roster didn't come out until August 26 I believe.

[Joseph1]

Does anybody know how we can watch any umhb conference games from last season? In particular howard payne and Birmingham southern?