FB: American Southwest Conference

[Bill McCabe]

CruAlum39, how do you think the speed of the inside linebackers compares to when you were a senior? 

[crualum75]

I said I was slow crualum75, but you didnt have to take it that far! 

Hey, do you remember that time you tried to pancake me in inside drill and and I reversed it and laughed in your face as you were trying to push me off of you?  Ahhhh.... those were the days! 

Hope life is well ol' buddy.

Nope, I don't seem to remember that  .  I do remember getting my pancake a couple of times though.  I am sure we took turns reversing on each other    Hope you are doing well too. I think I'll send you an email sometime to see what's up. Actually I may do it right now.  Anyways I hope you're doing well too, and don't feel bad, remember how ever slow your were/are I am still slower  . Take care bud.

[Josh Bowerman]

How did they line up Josh?  Was it that spread punt with the crazy wide splits?

Yes, and they had like three or four guys in the backfield as the "personal protectors".  Lotta good that did, eh? 

[Bill McCabe]

I've never understood the rationale for that spread formation.  You allow the defense to rush full speed and a lot of times they go right over the blocker into the punter and the ball.  Utah did this first, I think, but they rolled out their punter.  Standing there taking on 4 or 5 defenders running full speed is a bad concept.

[Josh Bowerman]

I agree mhb8904, and hopefully in a few years after both teams continue to be ranked within the top 10 and don't lose to any other teams than each other this could actually happen.  Ralph, Ron, and/or Josh do any of you guys think that this is an event that could actually occur in the next few years? Just wanting your realistic opinion, because if it were up to me (and I am sure other Texas football fans) these two great teams would meet in the semis  It could happen.

I think it's certainly plausible that it COULD happen, but most likely if and only if Trinity doesn't make the playoffs as the SCAC representative.  

It all really depends on the other regions, though, and who travels where...HSU did get sent to the North one year, and ended up laying a second half egg against a Wittenberg team they were beating by (I think) 21 points at one time.

[Josh Bowerman]

I've never understood the rationale for that spread formation.  You allow the defense to rush full speed and a lot of times they go right over the blocker into the punter and the ball.  Utah did this first, I think, but they rolled out their punter.  Standing there taking on 4 or 5 defenders running full speed is a bad concept.

You think?     8)

(I think I agree)

[Bill McCabe]

Josh, the crazy thing is I see many college and high school teams using this formation.  They get great coverage if they get the punt off, but I bet the percentage of blocked kicks in the spread is much higher than normal.  Most teams appear to rush the spread hard. 

[Josh Bowerman]

And against a defense with the type of speed the Crusader's defense has, well...you know how that turned out.   

[Bill McCabe]

Josh, the spread is my 2nd least favorite play in all of football.  I hate the QB sneak on 4th and short.  The QB is the only player on the field standing flat footed and straight up.  He is flat footed.  Look what happened with Tech in the Texas game.

[Ralph Turner]

I agree mhb8904, and hopefully in a few years after both teams continue to be ranked within the top 10 and don't lose to any other teams than each other this could actually happen.  Ralph, Ron, and/or Josh do any of you guys think that this is an event that could actually occur in the next few years? Just wanting your realistic opinion, because if it were up to me (and I am sure other Texas football fans) these two great teams would meet in the semis  It could happen.

I think it's certainly plausible that it COULD happen, but most likely if and only if Trinity doesn't make the playoffs as the SCAC representative.  

It all really depends on the other regions, though, and who travels where...HSU did get sent to the North one year, and ended up laying a second half egg against a Wittenberg team they were beating by (I think) 21 points at one time.

Could, but geographic proximity is mentioned more often than any other provision in the handbook.

I doubt it.

[Bill McCabe]

Ralph, I've only been on post patterns for 4 years, but I bet you have mentioned "geographic proximity" a thousand times or more.  We all hope for something better, but it looks like for now it is set in stone by the NCAA.  In the final analysis, I'm just glad there is a playoff.

[CruAlum39]

Bill-- I know it is a lot faster.  With me and your son playing inside, you have 2 guys that run 4.6s.  I think Jarrell Freeman was running about a high 4.4 or low 4.5 his freshman year, and Eric Henry was a DB for two year before the move to LB.  The Cru is definitely more athletic at the LB position at present, however, I like to think that we were a good core because we were in the right spot at the right time.  Jarrell could get in the ballgame his freshman year and do everything wrong up until he made the play for a -5 yd loss.  Pure athleticism.  Now he has the athleticism and he is A LOT smarter than his freshman year having played the defense for his third year now. 

Overall, I hate to say it, but I think your son and I might be riding the pine had we been a part of the Crusader defense today.

[Bill McCabe]

I'm just messing with you.  You guys were good players.  I gave you karma.

[Bill McCabe]

CruAlum39, I'm not sure who would have won in a race between the 2 of you, but I'm certain we wouldn't have had to use a sun dial to time you guys.   Let's hope they can make a deep run in the playoffs this year.

[roocru]

Bill-- I know it is a lot faster.  With me and your son playing inside, you have 2 guys that run 4.6s.  I think Jarrell Freeman was running about a high 4.4 or low 4.5 his freshman year, and Eric Henry was a DB for two year before the move to LB.  The Cru is definitely more athletic at the LB position at present, however, I like to think that we were a good core because we were in the right spot at the right time.  Jarrell could get in the ballgame his freshman year and do everything wrong up until he made the play for a -5 yd loss.  Pure athleticism.  Now he has the athleticism and he is A LOT smarter than his freshman year having played the defense for his third year now. 

Overall, I hate to say it, but I think your son and I might be riding the pine had we been a part of the Crusader defense today.

Or you guys would be playing LB and those guys would be in the secondary as two excellent strong safeties/corners.      Of course, I might be a little biased.