FB: American Southwest Conference

[Josh Bowerman]

(continued)

5.  Louisiana College--Wes Cooper is an offensive machine.  If he's good and the defense has improved some, they could legitimately be 7-3 this year.  Two of their five losses last year were by a TD or less, and I think they have the guys to reverse those close losses this season.

6.  Texas Lutheran--Sean Salinas meant so much to this team.  The only evidence we need is the final game against HSU where he pulled a Willis Reed and led the Bulldogs to a huge win.  He's gone now, and the Bulldogs will likely struggle early with breaking in a new full time QB.  Trinity and UMHB as two of first four games makes early season schedule pretty salty.

7.  McMurry--Ty Sellers is gone, and he was a big reason the Indians were as successful as they were last season.  Coach Crousen has brought in some nice talent, but I still think the Indians are a year away.  Non-conference opener at Menlo should be a good game for the Indians, and they should win it--showcasing the overall strength (IMO) of the ASC.

8.  Sul Ross State--Richardson is a dangerous player, and Alpine is always a tough place to play.  I just can't see the Lobos getting more than two conference wins.

9.  Mississippi College--Choctaws replace Austin College with Millsaps in another installment of big rivalry game.  Win that one, they likely repeat at 2-8, lose it, and....at least Lagrange is on the schedule.

That the way I see 'em and why.  I'm open to critique, and can't wait for the season to start!

[imad3fanatic]

Josh may be closer to reality than Billy B. The Crusaders lost 6 starters on offense and 6 on defense. The loss of PJ Williams hurts, but not as much as losing 4 of your 5 starting offensive linemen and 3 of your 4 starting defensive linemen.The Cru will have to grow up in a hurry this year if they want to contend for an ASC title and a National Championship. All that said, I don't think you can count the CRU out before they even play a down. Coach Fred has done a remarkable job with the UMHB program and I for one wouldn't bet against him this year.

[Ralph Turner]

The reasons are UMHB and HSU will be there year in and year out even though I am an offensive person defense will be the difference and UMHB has a great D year in year out they got Josh Kubiak back Ricky Lopez Jerrell Freeman coming back those players all had stand out years last year as they led the best D in the Conference. HSU is getting a great QB back and that will give the whole conference problems Jordan Neal is an outstanding player and he will make HSU better. SRSU and HPU were the two most improved teams in the conference last year but I don't think they are over the hump yet although HPU did beat UMHB last year they are still on the outside looking in. SRSU kids played harder than anybody in the conference so I wouldn't be surprised if they suprised people this year either. ETBU always has solid players so they will always be in the mix. LC's offense keeps them in games but the D has to play (See the top of paragraph) TLU and McM have to replace great QB's and that is tough so that is why I think they might struggle. Mississippi my only logic for them is some of you will like this and some of you won't but they are from Mississippi.

Billy, I thought your Mississippi comment was interesting.  Considering how Ole Miss, Miss State and Southern Miss fare, interesting is probably the right word.

I believe the biggest upside in the conference now is at Louisiana College.  Coach Dennis Dunn has brought the spotlight to Pineville.  There is plenty of untapped D3 calibre talent that has not been playing in the state.  Small college football is breaking out "all over the SEC" with new programs at LaGrange GA, Shorter GA (NAIA), Faulkner in Montgomery (NAIA) and Birmingham-Southern.  This can only add to the acceptance of D3-style football in this talent-rich section of the country.

[TrickyTroy]

Hello everyone! Loks like another great football season is on its way. Glad to see neal back for HSU. I like josh's picks. Seem he did his homework.

[Ron Boerger]

Ralph, there's an article in today's Express-News about the McMurry-NCAA "Indian" controversy.  I can't get it to open up from the office so you might want to have a look. 

[Ron Boerger]

I did finally get that article to open.  I won't post it all here, but found the following excerpt interesting:

McMurry, a school of about 1,400 students — 1 percent of whom are Native American, officials said — that competes in non-scholarship Division III, is considering several options after making a second appeal to the NCAA.

McMurry has established a six-member committee to weigh its options, one of which is a lawsuit. Other possibilities include:

• Keeping the nickname and stripping uniforms of the mascot for NCAA championship events;
• Changing the nickname;
• Leaving the NCAA for the less-prestigious National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics, or;
• Competing without a nickname

[/i]
Given the E-N's basic "ignore it and maybe it will go away" coverage of the local Division III institution, the length and depth of this article is surprising.  Worth a read. 

[Bill McCabe]

I'll stay with HSU and UMHB as the favorites.  I wonder how TLU will do without Salinas.  What about ETBU and HPU?

[TrickyTroy]

I believe HSU followed by HPU. UMH lost to many to beat these two teams unless HPU faults under pressure.( happens every season in big games)

[billybaroo]

UMHB is like all other good teams when they lose good players they don't mope about it the reload and play damn good football. I expect the conference to be a dog fight but don't expect the CRU to have to big of a let down.

[Bill McCabe]

The UMHB defense should be very good again.  Nobody else had the team speed they had.  They should help carry the load as the Cru breaks in 4 new O-linemen.

[imad3fanatic]

Bill M - The CRU lost 6 off their starting 05 defense-Reed, S. Williams, Mosley, Morton, McPhaul, And RoJo. 3 Linemen, MLB, and two DB's. UMHB has to re-load on both sides of the ball, and then hope that some of the guys from last year's two deep can step up. Looking at the starting two-deep from all 05 games will give you a pretty good idea that the CRU got a lot out of their entire roster. They played a lot of folks. Realistically after losing 12 starters 06 could be considered a re-building year for the CRU.

8)

[Ralph Turner]

For McMurry's sake, breaking up the schedule so McMurry doesn't play UMHB the week after HSU is a plus.  Of course, that doesn't mean we won't lose by a bunch...We just don't have to play UMHB the week after the Abilene City Championship!

[TrickyTroy]

The cru has been good for a few years. However every team goes through some rebuilding at times. This year is their rebuilding  years. Hsu has the players usually that a rebuilding year is at worse 2nd in conference.  HPU has always had talent, but lack of couching has cost them many years that I know ( Games against HSU: The goalline stands one year  and losing a 21 pt lead in the last 6 min another.) This year is HSU to lose. They are loaded on both sides of the ball and Neal is a great player possible Player of the year and even all-american. ETBU or TLU might surpise someone just because they usually do. 

[imad3fanatic]

Josh B - Wes Cooper graduated and is playing for the Corpus Christi Hammerheads of the Intense Football League. I have heard that the new coach at LC has recruited an impressive group of freshmen. 

[Ralph Turner]

Josh B - Wes Cooper graduated and is playing for the Corpus Christi Hammerheads of the Intense Football League. I have heard that the new coach at LC has recruited an impressive group of freshmen. 

LC's new Coaching Regime

I see LC as having the greatest upside for ASC football.  Over the next 5 years I would like to follow these 5 issues in the "Dennis Dunn Era".

1) Change in enrollment at LC.

2) Football outcomes--Playoff appearances and Championships.

3) Impact on giving to the Athletic Department in general and to the College's Annual Fund.

4) Compliance with D3 guidelines for need based aid. Click here.

5) Addition of football by other colleges in the Deep South.