FB: American Southwest Conference

[Josh Bowerman]

Reports I'm hearing are that McMurry's transfer QB can really play--a player in the mold of Ty Sellers.  Ralph, proudmcmdad--you guys have any thoughts?

[Ralph Turner]

Reports I'm hearing are that McMurry's transfer QB can really play--a player in the mold of Ty Sellers.  Ralph, proudmcmdad--you guys have any thoughts?

I am not ready to compare him to Sellers, yet.

This McMurry team has many new intangibles that various observers have noticed.  The team was extremely serious in their preparation for the game.

I still maintain that the early officiating in the game changed the nature, not that Huntingdon wouldn't have prevailed, because QB Zach Golson is that good.

I like what Coach Gray is putting out on the field.  I expect him to field a team of men of whom we can be proud.  He has recruited character.  Whether character gets us to the playoffs is not known.  However, it can serve as a source of pride for the academic community.

What I hearing from the players' parents is how much Coach Gray respects the parents.  They appreciate what he is trying to do with their sons.  The tailgate that we had at Huntingdon was one of the best ever for McMurry and Coach Gray's cooperation with alumni affairs should not be underestimated.

Long answer...let's see how he (the QB)  responds in the middle of the season. 

[proudmcmdad]

I can only relay what my son has seen at some practices and some film (including a track meet).  New QB is faster with a stronger arm than Sellers, now we need to see if he can be a QB and win some games, I think he will.

Gray is (trying to) change(ing) the attitude of the team into believing they can win in every game.  I think the team will be more agressive and with a couple of wins early in the season to gain some confidence in themselves should have a 500 season this year with better things to come next year since the QB is only a Jr.  I think the key to the season is the OLine returning all their starters and if they can stay healthy we will have a turnaround season.

One thing Gray has is enthusiasm and I think that will transfer to the way the team plays.  It will also be good for Coaches area in the Press Box, they won't have near as many repairs.

The McMurry FT (football team), screw that they are still the Indians, will surprise some people this year.

[used2b]

Hellp everyone,
     I am a new user/viewer and am excited about hearing some of you folks' views of teams around d3. I am very neutral on any team in the ASC, although I am an alum of a conference school. Here is my opinion on teams in the ASC (IF I may give them).

     It will be very surprising if UMHB doesn't mash CNU this weekend IN BELTON. Fredenburg, surlely wants to win every game in order to get his team in the upper echelons of D3, at least to those folks on the east coast who have all the votes in the poles.  ( we all know UMHB  or whoever wins this conf will be very good nationally)

    HSU should start 0-2 this year. I guess the QB situation there is beond help; if it wasn't Wartes would have whoever is in the saddle operating at maximum capacity (let's hope those 3 guys aren't operating at their highest level right now,{ God help HSU fans if they are}).

    The Choctaws from way over on the eastern edge may have something to say this year. Anybody who gets into an Offensive shoot out with them may lose on any day. Their defense must improve for them to conceive a real shot at running the table, But they are my dark horse. Their offense will put yards on everyone, their coach is too good for ANY coordinator in this conference.

    HPU - I have no idea what is going on in B'wood. They had better find a QB!

   TLU- unknown quality . . . But word on the street is that D. Parker used to be hardcore.

   LC- Dennis Dunn should not have left Evangel . . . but he has 77,000 reasons to hang around in Pineville

      ETBU- anyone want to bet they are shut out again this week? No playmakers or speed on Offense, A far cry from times past.
   
    SRSU- everyone should respect Coach Wright's job out there, but there Defense should befall them again.

    McMurry- from what I hear, the attitude may be turning around now, but we will see this Team's and Coach's mettle when they go no better than 3-5 in conf.


     ANY COMMENT ON MY PICKS WILL BE WELCOME . . .

[Gray Fox]

     ANY COMMENT ON MY PICKS WILL BE WELCOME . . .

We have a pick'em contest.  Please join.

See the "General Football" board.

[Ralph Turner]

Interesting picks, used2b.

The bottom 7 in 2006 were so balanced that we were this close to seeing a 7-way tie for 3rd.  Back in July, fatboy and I had this exchange.

I do agree that the rest of the conference is getting better.  But besides HSU and UMHB there was not another team in the ASC over 500 in conference.

TLU 4-4
SR 4-4
HPU 3-5
ETBU 3-5
LC 2-5
McM 2-6

I mean the conference was all over the place last year, until any of these teams win some games with any consistency.
More upsets I would say for an upset to happen in the ASC HSU or UMHB gets beat don't see that happening, I mean everybody else was tied for 3rd and 5th place last season.

Fatboy, let's take that last thought further.  Look at the parity that we have in the ASC.  HSU and UMHB beat the other 7 and then the bottom 7 beat each other up.

Will ETBU & McM be different (scheme wise) and better record wise?

For the 2006 season, change these three things and we have a 7-way tie for 3rd place at 3-5.

1)  the Inevitable -- HSU goes on to defeat LaCollege in the Thunderstorm game
2)  the What-if -- LaCollege blocks the last-second FG by TLU
3)  the Upset -- McMurry beats SRSU.

We need to evaluate the ASC by our non-conference games.  If the ASC is stronger, then we will see it in the games against Trinity, Austin College, Millsaps, etc.

[used2b]

Grayfox and Ralph Turner,
       Do you guys think I might be way off?

[Ralph Turner]

Grayfox and Ralph Turner,
       Do you guys think I might be way off?

No, I don't, but I would like to read more of your thoughts.

I am curious as to how strong the conference really is.  McMurry lost by 2 TD's to Huntingdon.  The AC game will be instructive.

TLU's loss to SRSU is interesting.  Is SRSU really the 3rd or 4th best in the conference.

Miss College must have gotten lucky with Coach Dubose's decision.  Miss College should beat LaGrange and may end up at 6-4 or 7-3.

How quickly can TLU adopt Coach Parker's system?

LaCollege catches LaGrange later in the season.  They should win that one.

The bottom 7 seem to be very balanced.

[used2b]

Well Ralph Turner,
          Last Year Miss. College crushed Millsaps which won their conference. MC went 3-5 in conf play I think, and some of thier losses were to 3-7 teams. ETBU lost 4 games by 16 combined points mayabe  (2-3 points off). TLU was in the mix i think also.

[Ralph Turner]

Well Ralph Turner,
          Last Year Miss. College crushed Millsaps which won their conference. MC went 3-5 in conf play I think, and some of their losses were to 3-7 teams. ETBU lost 4 games by 16 combined points maybe  (2-3 points off). TLU was in the mix i think also.

Yes, and MissColl lost Adam Shaffer to injury that night.

Millsaps lost three more games before Coach DuBose got his system in place.  If you will read the last week's postings on the SCAC board, the Millsaps fans are hot about Coach DuBose not playing the Millsaps' starters in the 4th quarter. 

As I posted earlier, most fans think that UMHB and HSU sweep the rest of the conference and then vie for the title.

That makes most teams 0-2 to begin with.  Already, ETBU, HPU, McM and TLU have a loss.

I think that we have a "big middle" from the "bottom 7". 

[CruGuy]

BigDaddy57 your statements regarding SRSU are fine by themself but in the larger context the resemble the real problem at SRSU. Lots of penalties, lots of turnovers.
2006 against UMHB: 12 penalties for 100+ yards (1 player ejected), 2 interceptions, three fumbles.
2005 against UMHB: 6 penalties for 50 yds, 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles
2004 against UMHB: 11 penalties 105 yds, 2 interceptions, 3 fumbles
2003 against UMHB: 7 penalties for 65 yds, 1 interception, 5 fumbles...

Sul Ross has never looked like a very disciplined team, and the inability to look good even when winning shows that they still need to improve before they expect to be able to contend with the big boys. (UMHB and HSU...TLU doesn't count)

[CNU85]

not sure if I'l be on line tomorrow (thursday)......travel day to Texas Friday.....any UMHB folks out there...look for a CNU tailgate somewhere on Saturday before the game and stop by to say hey.....there's not going to be too many of us, you'll be sure to find me!!

win or  lose...I hope we all see a hard fought competitive game....ok ok.....I hope you lose!!! 

seriously, stop by and we'll party together!

oh...the Stone Station guys at Bridgewater say hi to all UMHB folks...they showed me the pictures, so be nice to me!! 

[Ron Boerger]

According to this week's TLU-Trinity preview the Bulldogs have lost starting senior QB Joel Waldon [Converse Judson] for the year with a knee injury.  Bryant Villa, a sophomore from San Antonio (McCollum), will make his first career start against Trinity.

Nice preview package from the TLU SID, Tim Clark. 

[used2b]

Ralph,
     Your have got a point about that one. I don't really think it was a good idea for Coach Dubose to pull his starters either. If he wins his Conference, this probably means he will have to travel to the ASC winner in the first Round. I don't think that is a good plan for any team in  what could be considered a very weak conference against a much stronger conference.
     Back to our conference: I'm going to believe that the ASC will have a much more defined bottom this year. I think SRSU will pull itself away from the bottom this year, not b/c they are good but b/c McM, LC, ETBU, TLU will all be weaker this year than in years past. I'm not really sure about HPU without a QB; and I retain my opinion that this MC program continues to be a "rising star" and will be very dangerous in some time to come, if their Def can become competitive (they've just been awful, since Joseph got there, really before).

[Ralph Turner]

I think that SRSU can get a Pool C bid if they go 9-1.  The good thing about the win over TLU is that it was a "South Region" win!

The outcome of the SAGU game has no impact on the post-season selections, so SRSU can "max out" at 8-1 in-region.