FB: American Southwest Conference

[Crubacker]

Well, in 2017 we had a championship defense----------------this defense isn't anything close to that.  We definitely have quickness on defense and I understand "Bend but don't break" but do not understand "Let em whittle their way down the field"  They once had like 3rd and 19 and still managed to get a first down.  Tackling was sloppy.  I still can't get over how terrible the offense looked-----it was ugly.  Maybe Padron didn't want to show too much in case some it ended up on youtube but to be non-existent?  When the punt return team sets you up on the other teams side of the field and you can't even gain 5 yds, that's pathetic.

[umhbalum]

At every level it's about the QB. I'm hoping the Cru can avoid the drop off some teams face after a long time of dominance. Recruiting and coaching... I guess time will tell

[jekelish]

At every level it's about the QB. I'm hoping the Cru can avoid the drop off some teams face after a long time of dominance. Recruiting and coaching... I guess time will tell

QB, yes, but also the trenches. Especially OL. It's a cliche, but I do firmly believe it's a cliche for a very good reason.

[UMHB03]

At every level it's about the QB. I'm hoping the Cru can avoid the drop off some teams face after a long time of dominance. Recruiting and coaching... I guess time will tell

QB, yes, but also the trenches. Especially OL. It's a cliche, but I do firmly believe it's a cliche for a very good reason.

The OL really needs to play to its potential. With the size and experience they have, there's no excuse not to be a team strength.

Although, if the QBs are as bad in the regular season as they've apparently been in the scrimmages, the ceiling for this team is pretty low.... as in, they might not even make the playoffs, much less the Stagg Bowl.

[Mavchamp]

Seeing the latest reports about the ASC is pretty disheartening.  It's becoming clear that it's probably going to be every school for themself concerning the future of their athletic programs.

Does UMHB, HSU, ETBU, and HPU stand solid and just pull together 9 or 10-game schedules every year and hope for at-large playoff bids?  Would their ever be any chance of two getting playoff bids if one ended (10-0) and another (9-1)?  Seems unlikely.

Do we even have any prospects to join the ASC?  Wayland Baptist?  Texas Wesleyan?  North American?  Texas College? SAGU? Louisiana Christian?  The only one of those that MIGHT even be interested would be Wayland for travel.  Texas College maybe....because they would get shelled every week no matter what conference they are in.  SAGU and Wesleyan seem to be doing well in the Sooner so they are likely uninterested.  LC was clearly trying to get away from the top 2 in the ASC.  So raiding the Sooner seems futile.

Would any of the Baptist 4 have any interest in joining the Sooner?  Travel wise it makes sense for most.  But the cost of adding scholarships could be big (although less than going D2).  Which of the four might be interested in moving to the NAIA and the Sooner Conference?  Would any of the four even be welcomed into the Sooner?

Geographically..... the Lone Star Conference makes sense for UMHB, HSU, and HPU.  A hard sell for ETBU.  Not to mention the cost of adding scholarship money....which would be even higher than it would be for NAIA.  UMHB and HSU would likely be the most competive in football in the LSC.... ETBU and HPU would likely struggle mightily, at least for a while.  How about the other sports?  ETBU and UMHB have had some national success in baseball and softball... does that translate in the LSC?  And does it even make sense for schools with 2500 or less to be playing schools in the 9-10K range?  Geographically the GAC makes the most sense for ETBU, but without some partners to join them....it's hard to imagine the GAC being interested.

It's pretty obvious that many of those that are headed to the SCAC are looking to get out of the shadow of UMHB and HSU domination.  It would be pretty unlikely either would be invited based on the opinions of those that are departing the ASC.  But would the SCAC be more open to accepting ETBU and HPU?  Neither are football powerhouses.   It would strand HSU and UMHB even more.   I've seen ideologies being discussed between the SCAC and the B-4.  Wondering if the ideologies are centered around biblical/social issues or academic/athletic issues.  With almost all of them being religious-based schools.... their biblical/social stances should be pretty similar.  But if the differences are academic/athletic..... those could be much harder to iron out.

What's left?   An alliance?  With who?  SCAC?  Why would those schools want to continue playing UMHB and HSU if they were looking to escape them?  What other conferences are available? SCIAC?  C2C?  Seems like coaches would prefer SCIAC.

Travel nightmare for sure either way...... but it could save things temporarily for each conference until they can get things solidified for each.

Not excited about it at all.

-------------------

My first choice (selfishly) for ETBU is to stay D3 and move to the SCAC.  But that seems a longshot.

My second choice would be go NAIA and join the sooner.  Lots of potential rivalries that are regionally nearby (LC, Texas College, Wesleyan, SAGU).

Third choice would be stay D3 and join an alliance with.....someone.

Fourth..... move D2 and hope the GAC is looking to expand into Texas

LAST RESORT:  move D2 and join the LSC.

Kind of going back and fourth on going NAIA Vs. joining an Alliance. 

I think the Sooner Conference (overall) is a very good athletic conference..... not GREAT at football, but not terrible.  But their other sports are pretty strong nationally. 

Shame we are where we are right now.  Better leadership would have prevented most of this.

[The Third Division]

reading how bad umhb's qbs played in scrimmage, I now understand why King was forced to play through an injury during the semifinal matchup last year.

[umhb2001]

I have felt deflated in the past after the scrimmages, but this season has me feeling perplexed.

How do we not have a solid QB? Tingler has been in the system the longest and looks completely lost. The #2 guy does not look like he has a clue. This tells me that they either did not study over the summer, did not spend time working out, and have not been coached up.

I have lost all confidence in Padron. Last year's offense should have been EASY to coach and produce. We looked flat most of the season with very vanilla play calls. That was with guys who could actually produce and had won a natty. Then we get completely manhandled against NC. Very frustrating. If he blows it this year, Padron needs to be gone.

I think Jack Johnson is doing ok with the defense, but he hasn't shown that he is capable of producing a unit that we saw in the past from previous defensive coaches.

I am very concerned about the current team and our coaches. I know it's not his team, but Coach Fred needs to make a visit and get this staff in the right direction. They are not ready for Trinity or UWW.

[umhbalum]

Bring Coach Fred back in a consulting capacity. We did that years ago at Temple HS after coach McQueen retired, to get the program back on track

[Etchglow]

Bring Coach Fred back in a consulting capacity. We did that years ago at Temple HS after coach McQueen retired, to get the program back on track

Almost every picture from training camp I saw had Coach Fred in it lol.  I did a lot of looking though, Monterrey Tech did win Mexico's D1 national championship last year.  According to their social media, we beat them 29-16 last year and 20-10 this year. 

At every level it's about the QB. I'm hoping the Cru can avoid the drop off some teams face after a long time of dominance. Recruiting and coaching... I guess time will tell

QB, yes, but also the trenches. Especially OL. It's a cliche, but I do firmly believe it's a cliche for a very good reason.

The OL really needs to play to its potential. With the size and experience they have, there's no excuse not to be a team strength.

Although, if the QBs are as bad in the regular season as they've apparently been in the scrimmages, the ceiling for this team is pretty low.... as in, they might not even make the playoffs, much less the Stagg Bowl.

I think playoffs are in play.  We've got 10 games to get tuned up and HSU lost almost their entire offense besides RB and QB.  Howard payne might be good (lost leading RB and WR), but I don't think that game would nearly as close without the botched call by the ref in the corner...

[UMHB03]

Bring Coach Fred back in a consulting capacity. We did that years ago at Temple HS after coach McQueen retired, to get the program back on track

Almost every picture from training camp I saw had Coach Fred in it lol.  I did a lot of looking though, Monterrey Tech did win Mexico's D1 national championship last year.  According to their social media, we beat them 29-16 last year and 20-10 this year. 

At every level it's about the QB. I'm hoping the Cru can avoid the drop off some teams face after a long time of dominance. Recruiting and coaching... I guess time will tell

QB, yes, but also the trenches. Especially OL. It's a cliche, but I do firmly believe it's a cliche for a very good reason.

The OL really needs to play to its potential. With the size and experience they have, there's no excuse not to be a team strength.

Although, if the QBs are as bad in the regular season as they've apparently been in the scrimmages, the ceiling for this team is pretty low.... as in, they might not even make the playoffs, much less the Stagg Bowl.

I think playoffs are in play.  We've got 10 games to get tuned up and HSU lost almost their entire offense besides RB and QB.  Howard payne might be good (lost leading RB and WR), but I don't think that game would nearly as close without the botched call by the ref in the corner...

Oh, I definitely believe the playoffs are in play. UMHB has a punchers chance in every game they play based on talent alone. I just don't like the idea of going into the HSU game with multiple non-conference losses (which is a very real possibility if the QB situation isn't remedied VERY quickly) and being in a situation where we miss the playoffs if we don't win in Abilene.

[Ralph Turner]

I'm sure hoping that post-Fredenburg UMHB doesn't end up like post-Osborne Nebraska

Maybe they'll put it together, but if the offense is as bad as is being described, there is zero excuse for that. Veteran O-Line, deep and talented at RB, and everybody knew King would be gone after 2022, so there's been plenty of time to find a decent QB or two.

wry grin on my face...

then maybe the SCAC would invite UMHB to play with them...

[Etchglow]

I'm sure hoping that post-Fredenburg UMHB doesn't end up like post-Osborne Nebraska

Maybe they'll put it together, but if the offense is as bad as is being described, there is zero excuse for that. Veteran O-Line, deep and talented at RB, and everybody knew King would be gone after 2022, so there's been plenty of time to find a decent QB or two.

wry grin on my face...

then maybe the SCAC would invite UMHB to play with them...

Is it 4d chess?!?!!?!?!?!?  UMHB plays bad to get into a conference? 

[CruFrenzy]

I have felt deflated in the past after the scrimmages, but this season has me feeling perplexed.

How do we not have a solid QB? Tingler has been in the system the longest and looks completely lost. The #2 guy does not look like he has a clue. This tells me that they either did not study over the summer, did not spend time working out, and have not been coached up.

I have lost all confidence in Padron. Last year's offense should have been EASY to coach and produce. We looked flat most of the season with very vanilla play calls. That was with guys who could actually produce and had won a natty. Then we get completely manhandled against NC. Very frustrating. If he blows it this year, Padron needs to be gone.

I think Jack Johnson is doing ok with the defense, but he hasn't shown that he is capable of producing a unit that we saw in the past from previous defensive coaches.

I am very concerned about the current team and our coaches. I know it's not his team, but Coach Fred needs to make a visit and get this staff in the right direction. They are not ready for Trinity or UWW.

Just my two cents, but I think the offense's biggest problem is actually the obvious downgrade in WR talent w the first group. I only saw the first scrimmage but we absolutely didn't have anyone on the level on Brandon Jordan, KJ or Brenton Martin type of players. That will make even a slight down grade in QB look much worse than he is. Kyle King would be struggling with the lack of separation I saw out there, tbh.

I think we have some guys that showed flashes at WR but a few of them were transfers or newcomers/underclassman so hopefully they can learn the offense and get into that first group soon enough. The TE transfer from Cal Luthern was playing WR and looked like our best wideout but got very limited PT. He's really big and physical and just fast enough. I'm also wondering where Romello Cook is, he was reportedly supposed to be back this year and would/should have been our most talented receiver this season, hopefully he's still around. So overall I mostly agree with your assessment but just wanted to throw that in there, but yes the offense has more work to do than we've seen in a decade and needs to get something going.

side note: Have not seen Breezion Spiller (QB/WR) transfer from Tarleton in the first scrimmage, was hoping he'd be a boost as well.

Defensively I think we have a chance to be better than last year, DLine got way more of a pass rush than we saw last year in that first scrimmage alone and secondary LBs looked fast and closer to the Cru D standard.

As far as Saturday, I'm gonna say 13-10 type game one way or the other. GO CRU.

[Ron Boerger]

As far as Saturday, I'm gonna say 13-10 type game one way or the other. GO CRU.

FWIW Hansen has it 37-27 Cru.

[Etchglow]

I have felt deflated in the past after the scrimmages, but this season has me feeling perplexed.

How do we not have a solid QB? Tingler has been in the system the longest and looks completely lost. The #2 guy does not look like he has a clue. This tells me that they either did not study over the summer, did not spend time working out, and have not been coached up.

I have lost all confidence in Padron. Last year's offense should have been EASY to coach and produce. We looked flat most of the season with very vanilla play calls. That was with guys who could actually produce and had won a natty. Then we get completely manhandled against NC. Very frustrating. If he blows it this year, Padron needs to be gone.

I think Jack Johnson is doing ok with the defense, but he hasn't shown that he is capable of producing a unit that we saw in the past from previous defensive coaches.

I am very concerned about the current team and our coaches. I know it's not his team, but Coach Fred needs to make a visit and get this staff in the right direction. They are not ready for Trinity or UWW.

Just my two cents, but I think the offense's biggest problem is actually the obvious downgrade in WR talent w the first group. I only saw the first scrimmage but we absolutely didn't have anyone on the level on Brandon Jordan, KJ or Brenton Martin type of players. That will make even a slight down grade in QB look much worse than he is. Kyle King would be struggling with the lack of separation I saw out there, tbh.

I think we have some guys that showed flashes at WR but a few of them were transfers or newcomers/underclassman so hopefully they can learn the offense and get into that first group soon enough. The TE transfer from Cal Luthern was playing WR and looked like our best wideout but got very limited PT. He's really big and physical and just fast enough. I'm also wondering where Romello Cook is, he was reportedly supposed to be back this year and would/should have been our most talented receiver this season, hopefully he's still around. So overall I mostly agree with your assessment but just wanted to throw that in there, but yes the offense has more work to do than we've seen in a decade and needs to get something going.

side note: Have not seen Breezion Spiller (QB/WR) transfer from Tarleton in the first scrimmage, was hoping he'd be a boost as well.

Defensively I think we have a chance to be better than last year, DLine got way more of a pass rush than we saw last year in that first scrimmage alone and secondary LBs looked fast and closer to the Cru D standard.

As far as Saturday, I'm gonna say 13-10 type game one way or the other. GO CRU.

I think Will McClintock another transfer from last year at TE has a good chance.  They actually used him in place of Jordan for the beginning of a game last year.  He was lining up in the slot a few times at the first scrimmage. 

Saw this posted on twitter, it kind of says out loud everything we expected about the state of the ASC:

https://youtu.be/DeBnRlHcEEc?si=x_pwrUDxqGoWKPuZ&t=1679