FB: American Southwest Conference

[Toby Taff]

Ron,

I agree. 2 losses doesn't deserve a nod, and I don't even like thinking about the possibility of HSU undefeated & ETBU w 1 loss.  That means MHB has 3 losses
As to whether or not ETBU gets a nod or not, that's a tough one.  I would hope so considering the strength of our conference, but maybe the committee thinks flash in the pan.  {By the way, if MHB does not make the playoffs I am now announcing my support for the HSU run at the Stag Bowl.} 

[Ralph Turner]

mhb, this is a blood is thicker than water thing.  Come the playoffs we are all ASC fans.  My maroon blood can transiently bleed whichever shade of purple or blue or any other color on our quest for the Stagg.

I think that the only hope for UMHB is win them all.

With one loss teams, then the QOW as Ron mentioned will be critical.  The HSU and UMHB wins over D3 teams may help if they make the playoffs, but Southern Arkansas is of no help.

[Josh Bowerman]

Northwestern (MN) made the front page of ESPNs college football page today:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2185866

[Bill McCabe]

UMHB winning out will eliminate a 3 way tie with HSU and ETBU.  It will stink having won head to head and having a lower won loss pct.  Probably should have thought of that.

In the end, it will probably be decided on the field.  The best team will most likely win the conference.  Then we can root for a 2nd member to get into the field.

[bricktamland]

You would think it would make sense to look at head to head matchups first if there's 2 teams with the same amount of losses and not win percentage.

[Toby Taff]

Ralph,

We all route for the ASC, but you must remember, I have sticks in both fires.  There may be people reading this from school that are wondering what's going on in my mind.  I'm just shoring up loose ends in my responses. 

Speaking of all pulling for the conference, I do the same with the Old Southwest conference, I pull for them over all other Big 12 schools.  Cheers to Baylor (with former UMHB receiver Shaun Rochon) on their first Big 12 road win ever, and big cheers to Texas for plowing the field with OU (finally).

[Ralph Turner]

yeah, we have heard about UMHB being a farm team for the big Baylor!

[Bill McCabe]

Ralph,  It was nice to see Baylor get a Big 12 win on the road Saturday.  I wish my alma mater could just win a game.

[roocru]

My first chance to post since Saturday.  This was a tough weekend for RooCru.  Thank God that the Astros won today or it would have been a totally awful weekend. 

Congratulations to HPU on their win.  I listened to the game until the middle of the third quarter and it sounded like they were playing lights out.  I know it was a big win for their program and from all accounts I have heard, it sounds like they totally deserved it.

Two side notes I have been thinking about;

1)   In my mind there is no question the ASC is becoming a stronger conference from top to bottom.  I hope that this will be acknowledged by the D3 fandom and perhaps our conference will be recognized as getting stronger and stronger.  I think that will only help all members of the ASC when it is perhaps recognized like the ODAC, the NWC, the WIAC and others.  As much as I hate to say it, at the current time the leaving of the ASC by Austin College should help the conference strength rating and at the same time, I hope, breathe some new life into the AC program.

2)   It appears to me that each year UMHB has one game that the usual UMHB does not show up for.  (This is not an excuse or a knock on any teams that beats them).  For some reason they have not learned to be on top of their game every week to fight off the challenges that occur from being highly ranked or a favorite in the conference.   I think HSU does a better job of this right now and I wonder if it has something to do with being a new program in the D3 world and not having as much tradition to draw on.  I know Coach Fred well enough that the program he is developing will get past this point.  It is extremely hard for anyone to be up week to week in any classification of football and even those who are on top right now will eventually have one of those years where it begins to falter a little bit.

Like last year, I hope that now that the Cru have their backs to the wall they will not let anything stand in their way.  Best of luck to the Cru and we are rooting for you !!!

One last note.  As it appears I am the only AC backer on this board, I will try to post a little about what I perceive of their program after I attend Homecoming this weekend.  I cannot help but still root for the old alma mater and like the poet said "Hope springs eternal" .  Or was that a Cub fan?   

[tripled14]

Does etbualum's response remind anybody else of the 2003 season?


You know damned well that it was self-serving, etbualum.  Getting by (what is shaping up to be a disappointing) TLU team this year by 1 point for a win to stay in the hunt for the ASC title is one thing.  Touting it like the upset of the year is another. 

If your SID doesn't know the difference between what goes in a press release and what is suitable for editorial consumption, then you need to go find another SID--because they obviously weren't paying attention in Journalism 101.

Mister Bowerman it looks like you didn't pass english 101.  You should replace "they" with "he or she" on your last sentence.  Why does etbualum's response remind you of 2003?  Are you that jealous guy from Trinity who is still bitter from the loss in 2003?  ETBU's SID was just stating the fact that they beat the #14 team in the country acording to one poll.  If unranked Team A beats Team B and Team B is ranked 3rd in one poll and 15th in another poll what ranking do you think Team A's SID will use in the headline? 

[CruAlum39]

Man i hate to see my boys lose, but u have to give it up to HPU.  Congrats on a huge upset.  I'd like to look at this loss the same as the loss to HSU last year, as a blessing in disquise.  

UMHB would have never made it to the Nat'l Championship, in my opinion, without our loss to HSU in week 7.  We realized then that the conference wasnt going to be handed to us on a silver platter and our practices became a lot more intense than the previous weeks in which we were more complacent.  Sometimes you just need a wake up call and i think (and hope) that is what this is.  I think it is hard to stay focused on what needs to be done with all the hype that UMHB has had this year coming off of last years season.  I think some changes will definitely be made in preparation for the upcoming weeks.  

Im rootin for ya Cru, now win out and lets get this thing rollin again!!!

Go CRU, Go Knights!!!

[Pat Coleman]

Why would a Trinity fan be posting here constantly?

Before you make your first post, people, it's usually wise to take a look around and figure things out. I think Josh Bowerman's affiliation is pretty clear if you read previous posts before jumping in headfirst with both feet.

For me, I would hope the SID would pick the poll that is most widely cited/credible.

[Ralph Turner]

Roocru, thanks for the continued support of the Roos.

I agree that the ASC may actually win by AC's going to the SCAC.

AC will want to play 4 non-conference games.  Who do they play?

Wash StL? Okay.  A win will boost their QOWI.
They need 3 more games.  Likely candidates include McMurry? winnable some years and a historic rivalry. Maybe SRSU in Sherman?...a chance at win vs state-private issues.  ETBU?...close and sometimes beatable.  HPU? historic rival.  Louisiana College?  Beatable, but 5 hours away. TLU? Awfully good program.

Thus, any win over AC helps our QOWI.

The second benefit means that the AC Trinity game moves to later in the season after a few years.  I believe that TU defeated TLU because they had one game under their belts.  We may now catch a TU with an even record.

Finally, we probably pick up the chance to play Rhodes and Millsaps a few more games, altho' the 2005 LC loss to Rhodes hurt us.  Do we also go to Montgomery to play a very tough Huntingdon?  Long bus ride...the Hawks bussed the 800 miles to San Antonio.  The loss of AC means the ASC needs to find 9 more non-conference games!

I am sorry to lose a school, because my hopes have been that we could actually get to 2 full conferences, East and West.  At least we will have roocru posting as a UMHB fan.

[roocru]

Ralph,

I am going to try and poke around some sources this weekend for some possible answers to your question of who AC might schedule.  The issue of scheduling is going to be prickly for all concerned in both the ASC and SCAC !  I always liked your idea of an east and west division but alas that it a ways off now

I will try to post some thoughts again next week.

Thanks for the kind words and be assured I will post on both boards next year!!

[tripled14]

Why would a Trinity fan be posting here constantly?

Before you make your first post, people, it's usually wise to take a look around and figure things out. I think Josh Bowerman's affiliation is pretty clear if you read previous posts before jumping in headfirst with both feet.

For me, I would hope the SID would pick the poll that is most widely cited/credible.

Sorry, Pat, that I didn't read Josh's 1000 posts beacuase I don't have that much time.  Sorry that I didn't take a look around and figure "things" out.  I hope you and the other d3football gods can forgive me.

As far as picking polls:  If a nationally publicized poll is out there and credible then the SID can use it in a story.  You even quoted"Football Gazette exists, it even predates D3football.com, and some people consider it a legitimate ranking."  Who is the judge on which poll is more credible?

One final thought.  How do you jump in headfirst with both feet?  I will have to try that at the pool tomorrow!  lol