FB: American Southwest Conference

[FLALTX]

The starter is surprising, but he may think he can move up a level or two. The QB not so much so, UMHB has a DEEEEEP roster, something like 250ish kids I believe. A lot of kids will come for the 3x Championships thinking they will immediately start and realize that they'd rather play sooner somewhere else or don't realize up front the level of competition and commitment it takes to play for the CRU. I don't think this is an indictment on UMHB's program, I think it's more a validation of their model and finding kids that are suited for that model. Not everyone is and that's ok too. Lot more dynamics going on than just Coach Harmon and the season they just had.

[CruFrenzy]

The starter is surprising, but he may think he can move up a level or two. The QB not so much so, UMHB has a DEEEEEP roster, something like 250ish kids I believe. A lot of kids will come for the 3x Championships thinking they will immediately start and realize that they'd rather play sooner somewhere else or don't realize up front the level of competition and commitment it takes to play for the CRU. I don't think this is an indictment on UMHB's program, I think it's more a validation of their model and finding kids that are suited for that model. Not everyone is and that's ok too. Lot more dynamics going on than just Coach Harmon and the season they just had.

Yea the one of 15 QB's on the roster leaving isn't anything for me, I agree. We're gonna have tons of turnover on the JV level every year, the roster is huge like you said. That is not uncommon at all. What is alarming is the amount of starters (All Americans even) who have "walked away" from the program or hit the transfer portal. This makes five since spring ball ended.

*correction, I'm not 100% Raul Tandoh (our left tackle in '21 '22 was an All american, but he was 100% our best offensive lineman

[CruFrenzy]

I'm a UMHB fan but I am also a D3 football fan & I am still very much looking forward to this year's tournament.

Last year I made odds and lines for every game starting with the round of 32, I'll do that again this year. Seems to be good fun and is usually a good conversation starter.

I've scanned over the playoff field pretty good this year and have watched some archived games. My most underrated team/dark horse has to be Randolph Macon.

Given the layout of the bracket this is a team that legitimately could make the semi-finals and potentially even give Mount Union a run for their money. They have one of if not the best offensive line I've seen in Division 3 this season and a very stout defense lead by their defensive front and athletic secondary (typically a good recipe for success). My only concern is that they haven't had to show a ton of balance this season offensively since they have mopped everyone on their schedule. They will need to have a balanced attack to hang with a team like Mount.

Lots of teams emerging last couple of years making deep playoff runs and Randolph Macon are my pick to be that team this season.

[umhb2001]

I love it when history repeats itself.

[Ralph Turner]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

[Ron Boerger]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

[umhb2001]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

[Weak Safety]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

[Ralph Turner]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

Welcome back, Weak Safety.

[umhb2001]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

Says the guy whose team hasn't won a playoff game in 23 years while UMHB has won 3 natties in that time.

We had a young team, Coaches figuring out how to get them going when you don't have a National Semifinal offense. You are absolutely right. 6-4.

Next season will be here soon.

[bleedpurple]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

Says the guy whose team hasn't won a playoff game in 23 years while UMHB has won 3 natties in that time.

We had a young team, Coaches figuring out how to get them going when you don't have a National Semifinal offense. You are absolutely right. 6-4.

Next season will be here soon.

(mic drop) 

[Weak Safety]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

Says the guy whose team hasn't won a playoff game in 23 years while UMHB has won 3 natties in that time.

We had a young team, Coaches figuring out how to get them going when you don't have a National Semifinal offense. You are absolutely right. 6-4.

Next season will be here soon.

Thanks for the history lesson.  You're right, next season will be here soon.  HSU beating UHMB this season and playing in Sun Bowls in the 30's, 40's and 50's is history.  Won't help them next season any more than winning 2 National Championships in the past helped UMHB this year.

Good luck next year

[UMHB03]

Gaylon Glynn looked much less mobile this season. I was counting on his mobility in the HSU offense to be a bigger factor.

The early-season injury might have been a part of that.

Ran into Chad Grubbs on the way out who said they were down 3 starting OL before the game got underway.  That certainly had something to do with the lack of success running the ball or protecting Glynn.

That's a shame.

Good thing it wasn't a 6-4 team playing Trinity! 

Rent free, I love it.

Says the guy whose team hasn't won a playoff game in 23 years while UMHB has won 3 natties in that time.

We had a young team, Coaches figuring out how to get them going when you don't have a National Semifinal offense. You are absolutely right. 6-4.

Next season will be here soon.

Thanks for the history lesson.  You're right, next season will be here soon.  HSU beating UHMB this season and playing in Sun Bowls in the 30's, 40's and 50's is history.  Won't help them next season any more than winning 2 National Championships in the past helped UMHB this year.

Good luck next year

Not really a good comparison. The mystique of winning three national titles in six years still pervades and influences the UMHB program, despite one down year. Nobody alive today remembers HSU playing in Sun Bowls.

Good luck to the Cowboys next year too. After beating the Crusaders for the first time in 8 years, maybe now they can work on getting a win in Belton for the first time in 19 years.

[Weak Safety]

"Nobody alive today remembers HSU playing in Sun Bowls."

Of course they don't!  That's the point and why I included a reference from the stone ages.  Past successes are awesome, but present success depends on the current players on the field. 

You're absolutely correct, tradition helps recruiting, helps build mystique and intimidation, etc.  But in the end, the current players have to maintain.  If you have past success that does definitely help you get better players and put your team in the position to maintain dominance. 

Better individual athletes don't always translate to a better team. UMHB has the tradition, the facilities, and an ideal location for recruiting.  None of that mattered this year.  The HSU game wasn't lost because of inferior talent. Discipline looked to be an issue though.

Do I like UMHB?  Of course not!  For quite some time, until this year, they've had the upper hand against the team I root for.  Do I respect UMHB?  Absolutely.  How could anybody not respect what they've built? 

Will they return to dominance?  Time will tell. This season erased some of the mystique. Would I be surprised if they recover and return to form?  No.  As an HSU fan, I like the recent trajectory of both programs.

I enjoy having two great teams in the conference.  It's good for the conference and it's good for fans. 

That said, it looks like Jordan Neal is doing great things at McMurry.  I wouldn't be surprised if they are in the conversation very soon.

[Ron Boerger]

That said, it looks like Jordan Neal is doing great things at McMurry.  I wouldn't be surprised if they are in the conversation very soon.

The only conversation McMurry will be in after this season is as a member of the SCAC.  This is their last year in the ASC and I expect them to challenge Centenary for the SCAC title.  Until the SCAC gets six participants (2026 according to plan) they will likely have to go undefeated in the regular season to be considered for a playoff bid should Neal continue to make the progress we saw this year.