FB: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

If 6 teams were needed to qualify for an AQ, and those were AC, Cent, St Thom, SW, TLU & TUTX, I beliveve they would have the AQ in the 1st season.

[crufootball]

Isn't it the SCAC and new CCS that are both to having enough for football?  Could Lyon College go to either of those and one of them then sponsor football? 

If that is the case seems like the only chance the SCAC idea works is if they steal a member from the ASC apart from Austin College and TLU that would have to leave as well. And if that happens that would leave 5 ASC schools in a non great situation.

I don't think the SCAC wants to get back in the football business.  It wouldn't have to steal a school from the ASC if they could convince Lyon to affiliate, AND get all their members to come back from the ASC and SAA, AND Centenary too.  Seems like a very long putt; not only would the conference have to wait a couple of years for an AQ (after waiting for the SAA/ASC affiliates to complete their terms) but if anyone got cold feet and left for another opportunity or dropped football they're basically back in the situation that led them to kill the sport in the first place.   And I don't see Trinity wanting to give up their realistic SAA AQ chances for that many years, either, and Southwestern might think their chances are better now (next year) in the SAA than 3 or 4 years down the road in a reformed SCAC.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ron. They certainly never wanted to get out of the football business in the first place, but obviously things started to slide beyond their control from the moment Colorado College abruptly dropped their program, and then things just kinda slowly spiraled from there. I think they'd get back into football if they could.

But would they want to be in the football business if all members went from fairly secure conferences to a fairly precarious conference. After this year Trinity and Southwestern will be a part of a 9 team conference that requires them to only find 2 non conferences games and a real chance at winning at Top 10 conference in the country. I could make cases for AC and TLU wanting to put the band back together in the SCAC but it wasn't that long ago that TLU was competitive in the ASC themselves.

All of them would have easier paths to the playoffs if they could make it happen but if they only have 6 members they would need 5 non conferences games, all to basically guarantee themselves a 1st round matchup with whoever wins the ASC.

[Pat Coleman]

If 6 teams were needed to qualify for an AQ, and those were AC, Cent, St Thom, SW, TLU & TUTX, I beliveve they would have the AQ in the 1st season.

This would be correct -- no waiting period needed since all six would be full members of D-III and full members of their conference.

[Ralph Turner]

Isn't it the SCAC and new CCS that are both to having enough for football?  Could Lyon College go to either of those and one of them then sponsor football? 

If that is the case seems like the only chance the SCAC idea works is if they steal a member from the ASC apart from Austin College and TLU that would have to leave as well. And if that happens that would leave 5 ASC schools in a non great situation.

I don't think the SCAC wants to get back in the football business.  It wouldn't have to steal a school from the ASC if they could convince Lyon to affiliate, AND get all their members to come back from the ASC and SAA, AND Centenary too.  Seems like a very long putt; not only would the conference have to wait a couple of years for an AQ (after waiting for the SAA/ASC affiliates to complete their terms) but if anyone got cold feet and left for another opportunity or dropped football they're basically back in the situation that led them to kill the sport in the first place.   And I don't see Trinity wanting to give up their realistic SAA AQ chances for that many years, either, and Southwestern might think their chances are better now (next year) in the SAA than 3 or 4 years down the road in a reformed SCAC.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ron. They certainly never wanted to get out of the football business in the first place, but obviously things started to slide beyond their control from the moment Colorado College abruptly dropped their program, and then things just kinda slowly spiraled from there. I think they'd get back into football if they could.

But would they want to be in the football business if all members went from fairly secure conferences to a fairly precarious conference. After this year Trinity and Southwestern will be a part of a 9 team conference that requires them to only find 2 non conferences games and a real chance at winning at Top 10 conference in the country. I could make cases for AC and TLU wanting to put the band back together in the SCAC but it wasn't that long ago that TLU was competitive in the ASC themselves.

All of them would have easier paths to the playoffs if they could make it happen but if they only have 6 members they would need 5 non conferences games, all to basically guarantee themselves a 1st round matchup with whoever wins the ASC.

...or host the first round game versus a Pool C bid coming from the ASC, e.g., HSU or McMurry.

With respect to finding 5 more games, both the ASC and SCAC are in the same boat.
I can imagine a contractual arrangement for 3 inter-conference games.

For a new program, climbing the hill in the SCAC would be easier for a new program at a Centenary or St Thomas than in the ASC

[crufootball]

Isn't it the SCAC and new CCS that are both to having enough for football?  Could Lyon College go to either of those and one of them then sponsor football? 

If that is the case seems like the only chance the SCAC idea works is if they steal a member from the ASC apart from Austin College and TLU that would have to leave as well. And if that happens that would leave 5 ASC schools in a non great situation.

I don't think the SCAC wants to get back in the football business.  It wouldn't have to steal a school from the ASC if they could convince Lyon to affiliate, AND get all their members to come back from the ASC and SAA, AND Centenary too.  Seems like a very long putt; not only would the conference have to wait a couple of years for an AQ (after waiting for the SAA/ASC affiliates to complete their terms) but if anyone got cold feet and left for another opportunity or dropped football they're basically back in the situation that led them to kill the sport in the first place.   And I don't see Trinity wanting to give up their realistic SAA AQ chances for that many years, either, and Southwestern might think their chances are better now (next year) in the SAA than 3 or 4 years down the road in a reformed SCAC.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ron. They certainly never wanted to get out of the football business in the first place, but obviously things started to slide beyond their control from the moment Colorado College abruptly dropped their program, and then things just kinda slowly spiraled from there. I think they'd get back into football if they could.

But would they want to be in the football business if all members went from fairly secure conferences to a fairly precarious conference. After this year Trinity and Southwestern will be a part of a 9 team conference that requires them to only find 2 non conferences games and a real chance at winning at Top 10 conference in the country. I could make cases for AC and TLU wanting to put the band back together in the SCAC but it wasn't that long ago that TLU was competitive in the ASC themselves.

All of them would have easier paths to the playoffs if they could make it happen but if they only have 6 members they would need 5 non conferences games, all to basically guarantee themselves a 1st round matchup with whoever wins the ASC.

...or host the first round game versus a Pool C bid coming from the ASC, e.g., HSU or McMurry.

With respect to finding 5 more games, both the ASC and SCAC are in the same boat.
I can imagine a contractual arrangement for 3 inter-conference games.

For a new program, climbing the hill in the SCAC would be easier for a new program at a Centenary or St Thomas than in the ASC

I think your second statement makes it hard for me to see the ASC sending 2 teams to the playoffs. I have my doubts about the SCAC signing up to play the UMHB's and HSU's every year so we would all need 4 or 5 non conference games and most of us have troubles to fill 2 or 3, meaning we would all have to play non D3 teams and that being used against us come playoff selection time. A playoff selection time that would have even less Pool C bids if the SCAC takes a Pool A bid.

[Cowboy2]

Wasn't that long ago that Birmingham, Centre, Millsaps, Rhodes, Sewanee, and Trinity were all members of the SCAC. Outside of Hendrix and Berry, the SCAC, football wise (not talking about other sports), never really broke up. Now, the SAA is essentially the SCAC shadow. After the the realignment and AC and SW moving to the ASC, majority of these teams continue to play one another based on common program parallels in relation to their university focus, more so than regional proximity. I don't see any of the the other programs rejoining the SCAC for that reason outside of Trinity since they are an affiliate. However, I  don't see Trinity leaving the SAA, because they prioritize and sale the student athletes the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the country. Plus if SW makes the move, then that is one less OOC game to fill.

[Toby Taff]

Was chatting with a former student who is a Fr at ETBU last night. He's QB5 on the depth chart so I asked if they would field a JV squad. Nope. Don't know how many they have in , but if you're 5 deep at QB I bet you have enough to field a JV squad. I wonder why they don't since several in conference do.

[UMHB03]

Anyone know if the scrimmage with the team from Mexico is going to be streamed?

[Ralph Turner]

Was chatting with a former student who is a Fr at ETBU last night. He's QB5 on the depth chart so I asked if they would field a JV squad. Nope. Don't know how many they have in , but if you're 5 deep at QB I bet you have enough to field a JV squad. I wonder why they don't since several in conference do.

Whom do you think that they would play? Everyone is more than 150 miles away.

LaCollege 158 miles.
Belhaven 256
UMHB 240.

[Etchglow]

Gallery from tonight's scrimmage:

https://williambrown.smugmug.com/Football/2022-UMHB-Football

Observations:
1. They looked a little rusty to start off but there were flashes of brilliance. 
2. KJ Miller came to play, I want to say he had 4 40+ yard punt/kick returns including 1 touchdown.
3. Brandon Jordan looked really good as well.
4. Kyle King had a little rust, threw 2 ints.
5. Jerry Day and Jamaal Hamilton were the most frequent other WR's out there
6. Connor Mullins and Will McClintock were the two most common TE's out there.
7. Surprisingly, Brandon Cunningham appeared back as a punter.  At least that's what I heard the announcer say.
8. Jerry Cephus converted to WR
9. We played 4 RB's.  Aphonso Thomas is now 0, Kenneth Cormier Jr is 5 (threw me at first), Montana Miller is still 22 and Kenneth Miller Jr was 29.  Maybe he is a transfer from Northern Oklahoma State from Manor in 2017?  Seems to be the only Kenny Miller Jr I can find...
10. D-line seemed really small, or maybe Monterrey Tech was that big? 
11. We won! 
12. Can't wait until next week lol

[umhb2001]

Gallery from tonight's scrimmage:

https://williambrown.smugmug.com/Football/2022-UMHB-Football

Observations:
1. They looked a little rusty to start off but there were flashes of brilliance. 
2. KJ Miller came to play, I want to say he had 4 40+ yard punt/kick returns including 1 touchdown.
3. Brandon Jordan looked really good as well.
4. Kyle King had a little rust, threw 2 ints.
5. Jerry Day and Jamaal Hamilton were the most frequent other WR's out there
6. Connor Mullins and Will McClintock were the two most common TE's out there.
7. Surprisingly, Brandon Cunningham appeared back as a punter.  At least that's what I heard the announcer say.
8. Jerry Cephus converted to WR
9. We played 4 RB's.  Aphonso Thomas is now 0, Kenneth Cormier Jr is 5 (threw me at first), Montana Miller is still 22 and Kenneth Miller Jr was 29.  Maybe he is a transfer from Northern Oklahoma State from Manor in 2017?  Seems to be the only Kenny Miller Jr I can find...
10. D-line seemed really small, or maybe Monterrey Tech was that big? 
11. We won! 
12. Can't wait until next week lol

Thos players from Monterey are always pretty big. Just glad we got out without any injuries. Defense looked sluggish, but that's ok. They are getting their legs back. After the first 10 points, they looked really good.

Offense looked great. Rusty, but I'm happy with where they are. This was all about getting some playing in against someone else.

I hate to say it, but I'm not convinced Avila can kick FG anymore.

Somehow we always look bad in these scrimmages.

Finally, one of the drives, there was a play on second down, a penalty on us after the play, and suddenly it was fourth down. Anyone else catch that?

[Etchglow]

Gallery from tonight's scrimmage:

https://williambrown.smugmug.com/Football/2022-UMHB-Football

Observations:
1. They looked a little rusty to start off but there were flashes of brilliance. 
2. KJ Miller came to play, I want to say he had 4 40+ yard punt/kick returns including 1 touchdown.
3. Brandon Jordan looked really good as well.
4. Kyle King had a little rust, threw 2 ints.
5. Jerry Day and Jamaal Hamilton were the most frequent other WR's out there
6. Connor Mullins and Will McClintock were the two most common TE's out there.
7. Surprisingly, Brandon Cunningham appeared back as a punter.  At least that's what I heard the announcer say.
8. Jerry Cephus converted to WR
9. We played 4 RB's.  Aphonso Thomas is now 0, Kenneth Cormier Jr is 5 (threw me at first), Montana Miller is still 22 and Kenneth Miller Jr was 29.  Maybe he is a transfer from Northern Oklahoma State from Manor in 2017?  Seems to be the only Kenny Miller Jr I can find...
10. D-line seemed really small, or maybe Monterrey Tech was that big? 
11. We won! 
12. Can't wait until next week lol

Thos players from Monterey are always pretty big. Just glad we got out without any injuries. Defense looked sluggish, but that's ok. They are getting their legs back. After the first 10 points, they looked really good.

Offense looked great. Rusty, but I'm happy with where they are. This was all about getting some playing in against someone else.

I hate to say it, but I'm not convinced Avila can kick FG anymore.

Somehow we always look bad in these scrimmages.

Finally, one of the drives, there was a play on second down, a penalty on us after the play, and suddenly it was fourth down. Anyone else catch that?

Avila looked better than last year honestly. I want to say the fg he missed was 40+ with the wind coming towards him and across the stadium. It came up a couple yards short and to the right. The blocked extra point was a bit worrying though.

On another kicking note, punter looked pretty bad outside of maybe one punt and Kyle King's punt.

Yeah, the two and out was puzzling. Had offsides on first down, rush, rush, dead ball foul and then fourth down. Not only did they get the down wrong but they assessed a 15 yard penalty with the ball inside our own 30 yard line. Should've been 3rd down and half the distance to the goal.

[zipmac22]

All in all I think last night's game went well. There were cobwebs that needed to be cleared out, but for the first game (scrimmage) of the season I think the players seemed ready to play. It was great seeing The Cru back out on the field playing a game after a long eight months wait! As UMHB2001 said, it was good that we got through the game without anyone getting injured. Looking forward to next Saturday when Muhlenberg comes to The Cruthedral for the season opener! After the first four games (playing #11, #4 and #6) we will have a good idea of where The Cru stands!

[Reverendbiker]

I see that the 2022 Crusader football roster has finally been posted.  Let the speculation begin... 

[Reverendbiker]

Another note on the Crusaders' Saturday scrimmage:  Kenneth Miller, Jr (#29) took me by surprise.  It looked like the RB rotation was set with Thomas, Cormier, and Miller but Miller got carries early and often; the coaches obviously believe he's a player.  He's a small (5'7", 165), shifty guy who might make a nice change of pace from the big backs.