FB: American Southwest Conference

[Riley Zayas]

Game story from last night...what a game it was.

https://truetothecru.com/2022/09/25/20-points-in-46-seconds-propel-no-5-umhb-football-to-50-20-victory-at-no-6-hardin-simmons/

[crufootball]

Was there a reason why UMHB didn't also broadcast the game? I understand and appreciate the HSU broadcasters favoring their team when talking through the game, but the visiting team should be able to have as much support as well.

Not sure why they aren't but according to the schedule they won't be streaming any more of the road games this year but looks like they still will do audio so you could attempt to sync the other teams video to our audio.

On another note, every HSU player had TDE on the back of their jersey, anyone know what that means?

Toughness, Determination, Effort. 3 things we will definitely need in order to stay engaged in the next 7 games. All we can do now is try to get back to the high level we are used to and try to roll through the rest of the conference as much as possible. I can tell you, Abilene is about to be home to a lot of newly-minted UW-Platteville fans as well—our only hope for the postseason is for Platteville to way outperform expectations and make a run for 1st or 2nd place in the WIAC.

Thanks for that and you are right that HSU will need that in order to have a hope of making the playoffs. I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to possibility of being 2-2 and having to wait the rest of the season to confirm our fate.

With that said I think HSU's best hope is for as many 2nd place teams as possible to lose a second game. Going to into the game I thought that by the end of the year UMHB's victory over Muhlenberg and HSU'S victory over Platteville were not going to look near as good as they did in the moment. Muhlenberg clearly is rebuilding this year and could easily go 6-4 and Platteville is going to struggle to do better than 5-5. I credit HSU for going for it and playing UW-P, it may be enough no matter their final record but they need as many Pool C teams to be 8-2 or worse as possible.

[TheChucker]

Was there a reason why UMHB didn't also broadcast the game? I understand and appreciate the HSU broadcasters favoring their team when talking through the game, but the visiting team should be able to have as much support as well.

Not sure why they aren't but according to the schedule they won't be streaming any more of the road games this year but looks like they still will do audio so you could attempt to sync the other teams video to our audio.

On another note, every HSU player had TDE on the back of their jersey, anyone know what that means?

I spoke with someone who said they changed the policy after how bad the conditions at whitewater were. Not sure if it is true or not.

I streamed the UMHB version of the Whitewater game and don't remember any big issues. The typical UMHB broadcasts are pretty good in comparison to most D3/D2 that I've seen.

[Captainred81]

I was reading through the play by play cuz I couldn't find the archive video and seems that HSU has a game plan to beat UMHB, but for some reason shoots themselves in the foot over and over again.  Having sustained drives, big plays, holding them to field goals on short fields. 

The interception, the big KO return, the 2 fumble returns... It was like the worst 2 minutes in football (not that they were all in the same two minutes, but some of them were). 

I wonder what happened in the 2nd half...They seems to abandoned their offense.  Did UMHB make adjustments and shut them down or what? 

Last comment, There are plenty of other D3 teams that have the same size as HSU and UMHB.  WIAC, MIAC and OAC to names about 30 teams.

[HSUCowboy2015]

Late to the party here, but kuddos to UMHB. I don't think that they are 30 points better than HSU, but that is what you get when you commit 4 turnovers and give up special team plays. This makes two straight years that we have been shut out in the second half. I don't know whether to blame that on our OC or just to give Harmon a ton of credit.


I feel like you won't see some of the same things that you saw with last years team where we squeaked out wins against teams like Belhaven and McMurry. I just hope HSU gets into the post season and allows us to play in Texas, perhaps San Antonio.

[crufootball]

I was reading through the play by play cuz I couldn't find the archive video and seems that HSU has a game plan to beat UMHB, but for some reason shoots themselves in the foot over and over again.  Having sustained drives, big plays, holding them to field goals on short fields. 

The interception, the big KO return, the 2 fumble returns... It was like the worst 2 minutes in football (not that they were all in the same two minutes, but some of them were). 

I wonder what happened in the 2nd half...They seems to abandoned their offense.  Did UMHB make adjustments and shut them down or what? 

Last comment, There are plenty of other D3 teams that have the same size as HSU and UMHB.  WIAC, MIAC and OAC to names about 30 teams.

They weren't all in the same 2 minutes, it was all in the same minute haha. With 3:42 left in the 2nd quarter UMHB catches a TD pass to make it 22-20, by game clock 12 seconds later we scoop and score to make it 29-20 and 34 seconds after that we do the same thing to make it 36-20.

I am sure we made adjustments but I think those 46 seconds and then our almost 7 minute drive to start the 3rd quarter broke the will of HSU.

[crufootball]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

[Etchglow]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

Interesting... I mean if it was something like Liberty Hill it would be fun to watch lol.

[Ron Boerger]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

Oh man, given their results so far this season, if UMHB isn't careful they'll be up 98-0 in the first half Saturday. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

Well that spoils the surprise if Salisbury were ever to make it to play UMHB. I don't think it would have mattered. Being one-dimensional can only get you but so far. However, the triple if ran appropriately and with good enough players can get you to 6-8 wins a year and every now and then with a good defense 10.

[tigerguy]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

They did this a ton from like 2008-2012.

[crufootball]

Did anyone else know that Austin College was running the tripe option this year? Have to admit that I have not paid much attention to the Roos so far until now but when Coach Harmon on his radio show said that they were one dimensional by design I had to go look at what he meant. Through 3 games they have only attempted 14 passes and have not completed any.

Well that spoils the surprise if Salisbury were ever to make it to play UMHB. I don't think it would have mattered. Being one-dimensional can only get you but so far. However, the triple if ran appropriately and with good enough players can get you to 6-8 wins a year and every now and then with a good defense 10.

I love it, I know Austin College has high academic standards so I am sure getting certain players is not going to be easy. However if you can develop your own niche in the recruiting world and win 6-8 games a year that would be huge for AC. Will certainly be interesting to see on Saturday.

[jknezek]

W&L has great success running the triple option on a conference level. I don't think it's viable against the best athletic teams in D3, but when well executed it can give you a chance against most of the teams you are likely to face. It does mean you are more likely to lose your first game of the season and any game against a team coming off a bye...

[HooyahCowboys76]

I agree with HSUCowboy2015 on the statement that UMHB is not 30 points better than us. I'm new to the forum but have always watched, and kept up with it from a distance for years now. This game took a big lick to our pride but is 100% on us. UMHB has always been one of the best teams I've ever witnessed at riding momentum and capitalizing on others errors. They don't waste opportunities when they are given a gift from the opposing team, and that's what great teams do. With that being said if we eliminate the int, two fb TD's, and the kick return to the 3 it's a much different game. But as the old saying goes if my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. At the end of the day those aren't normal errors for the cowboys. They beat a lot of folks because of their discipline. Which by the way, the question on TDE actually stands for Toughness, Discipline, and Effort. We had multiple shots to score and got up quicker on them than Whitewater could. I'm confident we have one of the best defenses in the nation if we get a better pass rush. I still believe in this team and think they can play with the best of D3. I'm hopeful we get another chance in the playoffs, but I won't feel sorry for us if they don't let us this year. This one is on us!

[Toby Taff]

I agree with HSUCowboy2015 on the statement that UMHB is not 30 points better than us. I'm new to the forum but have always watched, and kept up with it from a distance for years now. This game took a big lick to our pride but is 100% on us. UMHB has always been one of the best teams I've ever witnessed at riding momentum and capitalizing on others errors. They don't waste opportunities when they are given a gift from the opposing team, and that's what great teams do. With that being said if we eliminate the int, two fb TD's, and the kick return to the 3 it's a much different game. But as the old saying goes if my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. At the end of the day those aren't normal errors for the cowboys. They beat a lot of folks because of their discipline. Which by the way, the question on TDE actually stands for Toughness, Discipline, and Effort. We had multiple shots to score and got up quicker on them than Whitewater could. I'm confident we have one of the best defenses in the nation if we get a better pass rush. I still believe in this team and think they can play with the best of D3. I'm hopeful we get another chance in the playoffs, but I won't feel sorry for us if they don't let us this year. This one is on us!

I will agree with you that if this game is played with the same 2 teams 10 times, this is likely the only scenario where UMHB wins by 30. HSU has a good squad and can likely play close with most of the top d3 schools, but don't say HSU lost this game and discredit UMHB. I wanted this game to go into shootout mode. UMHB's offense is crazy potent and I honestly thought HSU's best chance was to grind it out like UWW did. The Int was a great read and reaction by the db. The only reason it wasn't a pick 6 is Kevi Evans is ridiculously fast. Watch the two fumbles returned One was just straight ripped out of Garcias hands. He was trying to make a play and the LB ripped the ball away. Th qb lost the ball on a good hit. Those were mistakes forced by good defense.  KJ Miller is a return machine, the mistake was kicking it to him. In the second half, HSU had 18 net yards. If that's on HSU they quit, in which case all they would ever do is get close in games against big time programs because they lack heart. I don't think that's the case. I think UMHB's defense actually figured it out and made the right adjustments while the offense went to work grinding clock. As evidence I'd point out Evans didn't get loose after the 2nd quarter and the dbs made a few nice plays on balls thrown his way after the 74 yd td. HSU wasn't helped by trying to run, run , run and chewing up clock. So did HSU lose the game, no. They didn't do themselves any favors, but they got beat by a really good team that made good adjustments.

If this game was played 10 times, my guess is most games would be within 10-15 points, but I also think that HSU wouldn't win more than 2, and against this offense that might be generous.