FB: American Southwest Conference

Kelly Boggs · November 20, 2006, 10:44:22 AM

mhb8904,

+ karma for your diplomatic prowess. We could all learn from it.

Bill McCabe · November 20, 2006, 10:45:03 AM

The fact is they are BOTH really good programs and great representatives for the ASC.

Kelly Boggs · November 20, 2006, 11:02:23 AM

Bill,

I couldn't agree more, which is why - and we all agree - it is such a shame they had to meet in the first round. I don't even like the fact that the ASC reps will - at best - always meet in the 2nd round.

Bill McCabe · November 20, 2006, 11:06:08 AM

Most of the other conferences with 2 reps in the playoffs are meeting in the 2nd round, except Mount Union and Capital. If they win they will play next week. Maybe we will see 2 ASC teams in the regional finals some day.

dsc · November 20, 2006, 11:37:04 AM

Catland,

Good point...about when "one wins, they (UMHB/HSU) both win!"

Come on...make us...HSU...look good Saturday...and beyond!

ASC/Cowboy Fan!

Toby Taff · November 20, 2006, 11:53:44 AM

Quote from: dsc on November 20, 2006, 11:37:04 AM
Catland,

Good point...about when "one wins, they (UMHB/HSU) both win!"

Come on...make us...HSU...look good Saturday...and beyond!

ASC/Cowboy Fan!

Maybe the Cru can make "Thunderous Roll" in honor of HSU by putting the Presidents down.

crualum75 · November 20, 2006, 01:03:12 PM

Roocru,
I have a slight correction to your list of scores reflecting the scores between HSU and UMHB. UMHB won in 2003. The score was correct 43 (UMHB) to 36 (HSU) but the Cru won the game. Trust me I was on the field and remember making the first down to seal the victory. I figure it was probably just a typo, but any chance to remind HSU fans of the first time that we beat them in Abilene is always fun.

. Anyways thanks for your continued support. Go Cru and take care of the Presidents like in '04.

Zmotion10 out on 2 · November 20, 2006, 01:29:42 PM

Ok my post on the HSU/UMHB game/ rivalry / post season thoughts / future outlook. I hope not to hurt feelings and or step on any toes but here it goes:

1) It was very nice to meet Josh at the game. You have done such a great job covering our ASC teams this year. I'm going to have to dig into the pockets to buy up some of the great pictures you took. Thanks for a great job.

2) My son did not make the travel team so the loss although tough was not as bad as it could have been for me personally. After seeing these two teams play twice UMHB is a better team. The defense was just too quick and quite frankly better than anyone else we played all year. In two games we scored 21 and 16 points – the lowest point output all year. Our offense has great weapons and they made a valiant effort to get within 3 there at the end of the 3rd. I also thought the defense (even giving up all these points) played pretty good. They missed some crucial tackles however on 3rd downs. The Cru running backs had something to do with those missed tackles. They were both hard runners and hard to bring down. They had a lot of yards after contact. Bottom line was we could not stop the running game. Overall a very competitive game where the better team won.

3) "The Call" was huge. No doubt about that. I'm still trying to figure out how or what the penalty was??? See Josh's exploration of the rules earlier in the discussions. I know they called it against UMHB the first time and I had no idea why they called that at that time either. Naturally I was ok with it when it happened to the Cru. But "The Call" was at a critical time in the game. HSU scored on two straight possessions, had just held UMHB and had the MO. That was huge. In the first meeting after the half back pass score you could look at the Cru players and you knew the game was won at that point. No doubt about it the players knew it then. I saw the same thing in the HSU players after scoring that second TD. Then stopping the run. The HSU players had the MO I knew and they knew that as soon as they got the ball they were going to drive down the field and win the ball game. I knew it as sure as I knew we had lost the game after that half back pass in the first match up. The call changed the MO. Had HSU then stopped the Cru again we would have had a ball game. But the Cru rushing attack was just too tough to stop. Now I really don't know if HSU could have won that game had they received the punt on that 4th down. But I do know that after the 1st down we were NOT going to win the game.

4) Arm Chair QB – I would have liked to have seen Jordan scramble more. In the first meeting he picked up some good yardage and also did the same a couple of times in this game. Some QB draws I think would have helped the offense. In addition I would have went 5 wide and used the QB draw. Also the option out of the shotgun with QB keeping it I think would have been a good play. We have used that several times this year but not on Saturday. I'm not trying to get Jordon killed but I think he could have given the Cru defense some fits scrambling. Jordan did not throw well in this game. I don't know why but he just seemed out of sync. I'm not saying that we lost because of this but it was noticeable. He has hit #13 in stride several times this year for big yardage or TD's. This game it looked as if he just threw it up and our receivers were half the time playing DB. Something just didn't look right. Could have been the excellent play of the Cru DB's getting great position.

5) Fans & The Radio Crew– HSU fans were so loud every time that the Cru had the ball I could not even hear my radio headphones that were in my ears. Am I the only one that noticed this? Great job Cowboy Fans. The UMHB radio crew is about as homer as they get!!! Just kidding (really not) they did a great job of covering the game and I wanted to say thanks for the game coverage and the respect that they gave HSU. Although we disagree on "The Call".

6) Rivalry – This series has really been a good one. Especially for the Cru. HSU has got to win some games against the Cru to keep it a rivalry. I do understand that teams go through streaks if you will. But HSU has got to win some now. I know that HSU has respect for the UMHB program. How can you not after losing 6 of the last 7.

7) Next year we should have a lot of our weapons back. Q. Jones, Thurston Ashley – who did not play this year – I spoke with him at a game and he is ready to get back, Carrillo, Fields, Shurme & I'm sure we will have some other skill players move up. We will lose some linemen but we have some others that look good and have got a lot of playing time this year in a back up role. I like what I saw out of Feaster. He is very mobile and can throw the ball as well. Not sure that he is a Jordan Neal but he has some other qualities (scrambling abilities) that I really liked. On defense we lose a lot but we get back Daniels, Balenciere, Woods, Juston Brown, Halsey, Morrison, and some others. Also HSU coaches give my kid a shot!!!! I hope that my son will get his chance next year. He is a great player if you will stick him out there. Please, please give him an opportunity. Ok I hope I just didn't hurt his chances!!!! But truthfully it is time for him to get a shot now.

8) I hope that Coach Keeling comes back next year. I'm sure for the last 5 years or so maybe longer than that the people wonder if Coach K will retire. I hope that he comes back again next year.

9) Now that football is over I can concentrate on finishing my dissertation and by this time next year I will be a Dr. (Don't go back over my posts and look for errors either)! So although I hate for it to be over I need my weekends back to do some work.

10) Finally, like Vince Young said last year "Bring that trophy home to Austin" or Belton or back to Texas. Yes that sounds good bring it back to Texas where it belongs. I hope you quench your thirst for this championship because next year it is ON again baby!!!!

Z~

Kelly Boggs · November 20, 2006, 01:35:23 PM

Z,

Good post + karma for you!

etbualum · November 20, 2006, 01:42:15 PM

News from ETBU

Ralph Harris Resigns

http://www.etbu.edu/Current+Athletic+News/sports_item.htm?SportsID=1126

roocru · November 20, 2006, 01:44:18 PM

Quote from: crualum75 on November 20, 2006, 01:03:12 PM
Roocru,
I have a slight correction to your list of scores reflecting the scores between HSU and UMHB. UMHB won in 2003. The score was correct 43 (UMHB) to 36 (HSU) but the Cru won the game. Trust me I was on the field and remember making the first down to seal the victory. I figure it was probably just a typo, but any chance to remind HSU fans of the first time that we beat them in Abilene is always fun. . Anyways thanks for your continued support. Go Cru and take care of the Presidents like in '04.

Sorry, I have made corrections. Series record is 6 and 4.

Bill McCabe · November 20, 2006, 01:56:09 PM

Zmotion10, great post. I gave you + karma for that. I hope your son gets to play next year.

I thought Neal struggled with the UMHB defense at times also. I think it has to do with the speed. He did make some great throws and had a couple of nice scrambles. UMHB didn't seem to blitz him as often this game and he was able to elude a 4 man rush. HSU, IMO, needs more speed on the defensive side. UMHB hurt them time after time going outside the tackles on the option or toss sweep.

As far as the call, someone on HSU, a player or coach, goofed up, because there was confusion and there were 12 men on defense when UMHB came to the line. That was a huge call. I'm not sure HSU would have scored again. Hamrick is a good punter and he may have pinned them deep.

AS long as the 2 schools have high standards for success on the football field, this will be a very good rivalry.

Ralph Turner · November 20, 2006, 02:37:37 PM

For you who have jumped to the Post Patterns instead of reading the front page, Coach Harris has stepped down at ETBU.

Bill McCabe · November 20, 2006, 02:42:14 PM

Ralph, something has been going on at ETBU. They have good athletes and when they won the conference I thought they were going to be a force in the ASC. Then everything seemed to fall apart. Do you have any insight on them?

Ralph Turner · November 20, 2006, 04:14:49 PM

No, I don't! Coach Harris got a program off the ground, and he peaked with the 4th-yr seniors. That initial core of players was something special as were the first groups at UMHB and at HSU in the 1990's.

The conference is getting stronger, and it will tough to break thru especially with UMHB's recent successes. Going from nothing to Stagg Bowl contender is very hard, altho' I think that Texas has the talent pool to do it.

I wish the program luck, altho' I realize that ETBU is my competitor. I am glad they played Trinity this year. I just wish that they would pick up another South Region opponent for the sake of the conference reputation.