FB: American Southwest Conference

[etbualum]

Crukid

Its homecoming for etbu so that should help.  2500 might still be out of reach, but we will give it a shot

[CruGuy]

Thank you again Ralph for your plethora of knowledge. I think I learned far more about Texas's Metropolitan Statisical Area Policy today than I will ever need to know, but surely knowledge is power. I think my point has not been to degrade the census takers, or anyone here's knowledge, but just to question whether there is really a market of 355,000 people who would consider a UMHB game local and attractive. I would argue that all those people living in Copperas Cove, Killen, Harker Heights, and on base at Fort Hood would not. However, Abilene's metropolitan areas includes the entire population of Jones and Callahan counties which I'm sure contain a great many ranchers who could care less about going into town to watch football and thus the great citizens of abilene should be commmended even more for their loyal support of the cowboys, wildcats, and uh McMurry athletics (takes some getting used to).

etbualum, I hope you're right, I have enjoyed the games I've watched in Marshall and really don't consider it too far of a drive for the Crusaders, but I don't think in recent years that we have traveled as well to Marshall as we have to Seguin, Abilene, and Brownwood.

[roocru]

roocru, happy at Thanksgiving?

Bill,
I would say that at the least, it is a win/win situation !!!   

[Ralph Turner]

Crukid, I see several markets that do things well at supporting D3 sports.

Abilene--Great Newspaper and Radio support.  When online video streaming of local news becomes more prevalent, then I will be able to download the KTAB sports every night.  I really like George Levecque's (George I hope I spelled your name right!  ) audio stream at www.reporternews.com. McMurry broadcasts 10 football games, 40 basketball games (Men and Women)  and about 10 baseball games.  HSU has good support on the radio as well.

Alpine--Local support but really needs to learn how to maximze the web to connect the Alumni bases in the metropolitan areas.  SRSU had a huge contingent at the 2004 Trinity-SulRoss basketball playoff game, apparently a lot of local San Antonio walk-up attendance.

Belton--Temple Telegram/Killeen Daily Herald but needs a flagship radio station for better support.  May have the fastest-growing population base in the conference and they are the only game in town.

Brownwood--Strong local support, like Abilene and Belton.  Good radio support, but limited population base. 

Clinton MS--Great support and has been a perennial football attendance leader in the last 2 decades.  Great facilities.  Manages to get some press out of Jackson, too.

Marshall--Good local radio and newspaper support.  Growing area of the state and not much other competition for the entertainment spotlight.

Pineville--Very good newspaper support.  I have not found the radio support, if it is there, yet.  Great chance to corner the D3 market in the state.  I believe that the Baptists can split their allegiances between LaCollege and LSU or whomever.  It is just a different type of ball.  I can see the program getting stronger.

Seguin--Great local radio support.  They usualy have a clear signal.  Gets local newspaper support as well. Can be the access point for D3 out of Houston.  I wonder when NAIA Houston Baptist starts football, if ever.

[hpudad]

Crukid, I think you are underestimating Copperas Cove interest in football.  Copperas Cove has one of the best High School football programs in the state and UMHB QB (Josh Welch) is a product of that program.  When he was coming out of high school he was being recurited by a couple Division 1A schools but chose Division III UMHB instead.  Josh is the son of Copperas Cove Head Football coach Jack Welch and there are many in the community that are still interested in waching Josh play.

In the ASC I'm a big HPU fan first and UMHB second.

[Kelly Boggs]

You beat to the punch hpudad... and you are right. The Cove has a pretty good group at home games to support Josh and the CRU. Most of the players from Central Texas have their own rooting sections.

Go CRU!

[Toby Taff]

Crukid, I think you are underestimating Copperas Cove interest in football.  Copperas Cove has one of the best High School football programs in the state and UMHB QB (Josh Welch) is a product of that program.  When he was coming out of high school he was being recurited by a couple Division 1A schools but chose Division III UMHB instead.  Josh is the son of Copperas Cove Head Football coach Jack Welch and there are many in the community that are still interested in waching Josh play.

In the ASC I'm a big HPU fan first and UMHB second.

hpudad,

I think Crukid is underestimating the potential interest in the whole area.  There are a ton of people in the Killeen-Fort Hood area who are graduates of UMHB because it was close when the military brought them into the area.  Killeen's schools are full of teachers with degrees from UMHB.  I think there are a couple of issues when it comes to supporting UMHB.  I think I have a pretty good grasp of these issues because I have been associated with MHB in some way since my brother started school there in 1981.  Others that post here who have been associated with UMHB for decades can attest to these issues as well.

The biggest issue, in my opinion, is that prior to the late 1990s, UMHB was a suitcase school and most commuter students rarely participated in the life of the school.  There were very few people on campus, comparatively speaking, and the commuters and the resident students just didn't associate much.  Dr. Bawcom is largely responsible for making the change.  The capital improvements made and the traditions that have been begun under his tenure as president have changed the campus significantly.  So there is a disconnect between students before the mid-1990s and those coming after the mid 1990s.  Interestingly, the students from the mid 90s (92-96ish) are strongly connected, even going so far as to have reunions together.

If UMHB is ever going to draw from the potential base the way it could/should, then the school will have to find a way to reach those disconnected alumni that only hear from the school during phonathon when the school is raising money.  The school needs to find some way of making the area alumni feel like alumni of the school.  If anyone can do it, Dr. Bawcom can.  His tenure has truly been a blessing for UMHB and he has done much to give MHB a college feel.  I can attest to not really experiencing that type of atmosphere when I first started UMHB in 1989, so I noticed the significant difference when I returned in 2002.

Kelly, any thoughts?

[Kelly Boggs]

Well said. I think you hit the nail right on the head.

I do think reaching out to the pre-football alumni is something that will help, however, I think the UMHB fan base will only grow with each passing year. I have only been at a couple of games at Belton since football was started, but the crowds have always been good.

I am expecting a good crowd on Saturday... which reminds me, I need to call and secure my tickets. 

[Toby Taff]

I am expecting a good crowd on Saturday... which reminds me, I need to call and secure my tickets. 

I don't know how high you like to sit, but if row d seats 3-7 are available, they are good seats.  They're down low, near the 50, and at least part of that row has no seats in front of it.  That's where i get tickets when I go and take my dad.  Not having people in front is a huge + when trying to get in and out.

I was thinking, UMHB should to do a media-blitz offering an alumni day separate from homecoming during a good game, maybe CNU next year.  I think if some of the alumni were to experience the game day atmosphere and see how good the team is, it might increase some of the local attendance.

[Kelly Boggs]

Good idea! I will pass it along to some of the powers that be.

Go Purple CRUsh. Beat UWW.

[crualum75]

Well said. I think you hit the nail right on the head.

I do think reaching out to the pre-football alumni is something that will help, however, I think the UMHB fan base will only grow with each passing year. I have only been at a couple of games at Belton since football was started, but the crowds have always been good.

I am expecting a good crowd on Saturday... which reminds me, I need to call and secure my tickets. 

I would definitely have to agree.  Alumni that went to school with a CRU football team will be more likely to come back and see big games.  Speaking as a former player for the Crusader football team, I know that alot of my former teammates (particularly those in the area or with a couple hour drive) try to make it to big ball games.  For instance, I plan on going to the game this weekend, and I am sure there will be teammates of mine attending the game.  The crowds will continue to grow, and I also agree that it would be very beneficial if alumni officials would reach out to those who have never been.  A crusader football game is definitely an entertaining way to spend a Saturday.

[crualum75]

... Dr. Bawcom is largely responsible for making the change.  The capital improvements made and the traditions that have been begun under his tenure as president have changed the campus significantly...His (Bawcom's) tenure has truly been a blessing for UMHB and he has done much to give MHB a college feel.  I can attest to not really experiencing that type of atmosphere when I first started UMHB in 1989, so I noticed the significant difference when I returned in 2002.

I also agree that Dr. Bawcom has truly been a blessing to UMHB and its students.  Hopefully UMHB will have continued success and growth under Bawcom.  Thanks, particularly, for believing in a football program in Belton.

[Chess4Me]

I agree with mhb8904 about what Dr. Bawcom has done for UMHB since his arrival as president. When my daughter started college, it was primarily a girl's school. The basketball team was good but played in a cracker box sized gym, and there was no football team at all. I knew of the college because my kids went to church camp there in the summer, but there wasn't much to do on any given weekend to justify driving 2 and 1/2 hours from Houston.

The football program began when she was a junior, so it provided a few more reasons to see her on weekends, as well as something to do when there. The quality of play and skill level was remarkable to me for a start-up program. It was obvious that the University, led by Dr. Bawcom, whole-heartedly supported the program, and it showed. The success of the football team led to a more balanced male-female population on campus, and brand-new facilities for basketball, baseball, softball, etc., which has provided an interest in the school from all over Texas. It also led to new and better educational facilities, as well.

I strongly support the D3 approach to athletics through scholar-athletes. Furthermore, I believe it's natural for kids to want to attend school where there are not only quality educational opportunities, but nice facilities for recreation and winning sports programs for which to root.

The football team's success has been enough of a draw to get me to make that trip from Houston for nearly every home game since the program started, as well as to a few away games and play-off games. I've also been present for other events on campus. I personally know of other people who do much the same, even though they, like me, are not alumni of the university. This growth and interest in UMHB is in very large part due to the direct leadership of Dr. Bawcom and his administration, so I want to make sure he is given appropriate recognition.

SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL:

I will be present at this week's UMHB-Whitewater game, but I may have 4 addtional season tickets available (located in front of the press box on the 50 yard line). I'll know for sure by Friday. Whenever that happens, I usually give them away to someone at the gate, but I'd like to meet some of the people who post on this site, so if you'll e-mail me, we'll see about making arrangements to get the tickets to you. The tickets are free, I just want to give them away to someone I know will appreciate them.

[crualum75]

Sorry about the last post I was trying to trim the quote down to what my comment was referencing.
Oh well, does anybody want to go out on a limb and make a prediction about the UMHB v UW-Whitewater game, since Chris Allman didn't in his ATR? Just messing with you Chris.  Good article and it made the HSU and SR game more interesting in my mind.
That is another good question. Does anybody think that SR will be HSU?

[Toby Taff]

I agree with mhb8904 about what Dr. Bawcom has done for UMHB since his arrival as president. When my daughter started college, it was primarily a girl's school. The basketball team was good but played in a cracker box sized gym, and there was no football team at all. I knew of the college because my kids went to church camp there in the summer, but there wasn't much to do on any given weekend to justify driving 2 and 1/2 hours from Houston.

I loved the cracker box gym.  Maybee gym was the loudest, most unfriendly to away teams place I've ever been.  When I started at UMHB the BBall team was horrible (the first game I attended we were pasted by 50+ points by TLC), but I watched the rise of the program and even got to go to the NAIA tournament in Tulsa when they went.  Many people do not realize that UMHB had ever been a Basketball & Baseball school, but I remember when we had transfers from Auburn and UTEP, and our starting point guard was the reigning Hoop-it-up slam dunk champion.  For those of you who missed the NAIA era in MHB sports history, it included a baseball team that was runner up at the NAIA world series (on that team was a young man named Mike Meggers who set the NAIA record for homeruns that season [just checked he still holds that record at 36], and if I'm not mistaken he also set the record for Home runs in a world series, was named MVP and Player of the Year.), a basketball team that went to the national tournament, a womens golf team that won a national championship, and i think a men's golf national championship.