FB: American Southwest Conference

[Kelly Boggs]

Thanks, Toby. Sounds like the UHMB arsenal is loaded this year.

[baker22]

HSU Coaches:
- why can't they get plays into the offense in a timely fashion?  This seems to be a consistent problem every year...and was very apparent today.
- what is the deal with Feaster looking over at the sideline when he gets under center?  It seems like he is confused with the play call, but that also may be intentional to confuse the defense....
- why did the coaches bring in the scrubs when the game was far from certain?  I think that was a big mistake that almost cost them

WHAT!!?? Can we just go back to your statement that you dont know squat about football?  
My first post on here after reading some of these comments about HSU. I have never been one to bite my tounge or stand behind an alias. My son does play for HSU so it will be easy to tell who I am. I thought the offense performed well. The defense did play better and i noticed some personnel changes in the secondary that will take some time to show. I do not believe a single player that suited up Saturday and went on the field to play should be considered a "SCRUB". I will be the first to say that down field coverage should be a concern and i believe these coaches will do everything in their power to correct it. As for why is Feaster looking at the sidelines my wife and daughter asked me the same question. Surely that should not be something that needs to be discussed on this board. Sort of like you dont learn that 2+2=4 in college algebra. Heres a question; why did the kicker quit?

[yessir]

kickahoe, there's nothing wrong with being critical or your team. Everybody's a critique, I just think you kind of ragging on them to hard. Have a little faith in them. They have been the second strongest team in this conference for a while now. I don't see them dropping any lower than that any time soon. Now to say they will be in trouble against UMHB, now that I could understand, because we all know that is true. But Coach Keeling has been winning football games for a long time now, and i think he will do his best to create wins for the HSU hopefuls. I doubt they have any chance what so ever come Oct. 6, but I think they will atleast go 7-3, with losses to 3 very good teams. No playoffs, but thats not that bad, the second round would of been as far as they went anyways. It will be alright, HSU will back one day.

[aldl]

It's been awhile since I logged on! It seems like UMHB are playing like champions and have separated from the pack.  MC and HSU should be a great game and a battle for second place. HSU-DB's are lacking without the two corners from last year! Rumor is they are both coming back in the Spring but that's a long time. We are talking about this year lol! HSU defense is still in trouble and like I said before if they can't stop the pass(and they can't) it's going to be a long season! They are not dominant as last yeat or before and I believe teams will think they can actually beat HSU this year. Thanks to the football gods that HSU offense is high caliber. Not downing the defense, but MC will give them a tough time, and I would not be surprise if they beat HSU! Remember last year MC had HSU 14-0 1st, until the HSU defense stiffend with the n#24(corner) intercepted the ball in the endzone, and o just dismantled MC. I think HSU should go to a 5db or 6 against MC, kind of what they did against LC, but trying to go a lil man like they did against LC will be a sad story next sunday. On a positive note they will be ok as long as that d-line play like they did against LC. Good Job! 7sacks! they will need it more agains MC and I think they will do it. It should be a good 1.......
Question: Are the McM players not as good as we thought or is it the coaching staff, because it seems to me that the samething is happening! But at least they keep decent QB's. #1 is a player

[ronburgandy]

i have watched the cowboys for 2 home games and it seems like they do not have any fire in them. there were several drop passes. is there an offense skills coach on the field? if so who is it?

[Pat Coleman]

For what it's worth, I thought HSU had plenty of fire last week. In fact, they were more up for the game than the two teams I saw yesterday combined.

[kickhoe]

Yessir...I don't think I'm being overly critical of the Cowboys...but there is an expectation out there regarding this team...one of the purposes of this forum is to discuss the in/outs of your team...this creates healthy discussion, but also instills some passion for your school....I want the Cowboys to whoop every team they play (especially UMHB )...but that is not going to happen this season..
I do expect HSU to get better as the season progresses...but if yesterday was any indication of how things are going..then I am not overly optimistic!!

[kickhoe]

Baker22.....first off....I said that the offense did play well...besides that first series...they moved the ball pretty well...since it looks like they have settled on a QB, they are only going to get better...there achilles heel is the defense....please tell me where they improved on defense??  I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I know they have given up between 500 and 600 yards per game....an improvement is getting that number much lower....not to mention the fact their tackling was atrocious!!!

I have every bit of faith in the HSU coaches...I have no doubt that they are working their tails off to make this better....but once again, a fan can be critical of questionable decisions!!!

Finally, come on..."scrubs" is a term for the 3rd or 4th stringers that never get a chance to play...no offense was meant by using that term....believe me, everyone of those guys have more athletic prowess in their big toe than I have I have overall!!!!

[golden_dome]

Question: Are the McM players not as good as we thought or is it the coaching staff, because it seems to me that the samething is happening! But at least they keep decent QB's. #1 is a player

From watching the game yesterday, the McMurry skill positions looked pretty good but they really struggled up front on both sides of the ball. The quarterback can absolutely fly, but he was running for his life most of the game and took a beating. He was sacked five times and hurried ten times. A few more players around him and they could have something offensively.

The MC-HSU game will be the biggest home conference game we have had in a long time, should be a great atmosphere.

Just a few notes on MC heading into this week.

• The defense was a question mark entering the season but they lead the ASC in tackles for loss (12 per game) and sacks (15) and should rank in the top five nationally this week in those categories. They are second in the ASC in total defense (463 ypg) and first in rushing defense (40.7 ypg). They are second in the league in takeaways and int's per game. Defensive end Brannon Willisson leads the league in sacks and tackles for loss and is second in tackles among ASC d-linemen.
• In the first half of the last two games, MC outscored TLU and MCM a combined 62-11 and outgained them 645-234 in total offense. In those two first halves, Adam Shaffer completed 28-48 for 491 yards and seven touchdowns with three picks.
• Punter Jonathan Russell leads the ASC averaging 43.7 per punt and should rank somewhere between 2-5 nationally this week. He has the highest career punt average in MC history. Placekicker Kyle Kruse tied the MC career record this week with 22 made field goals and should rank 1-3 nationally in made field goals per game this year.

[Ralph Turner]

I think that the hardest positions to fill in D3 are these:

1)  DB's -- the really good ones are hard to find.  There are plenty of them that are okay.
2)  Linemen: Offensive and Defensive -- Not many here either.  There are plenty of players of large physical dimensions filling the uniforms.  Great lines make everyone else look better.
3)  Running backs:  Real Running Backs.  With the move to 7-on-7, I think that we are developing even fewer RB's.
4)  Kickers/Punters/FG-PAT Kickers:  If you have one who can consistently kick to inside the 5-10, then great.  Punters who can average 35+ net yards. FG kickers who are solid inside 40 -yds.
5)  QB's:  Actually we seem to have plenty of good QB's in the conference, many of whom need great O-lines and other support.
6)  LB's:  Plenty of good LB's.  I think that the great ones usually have great D-Lines in front of them.
7)  WR's:  With the growth of 7-on-7, these players seem to be in abundance.

Just my thoughts... Please join in.

[kickhoe]

Ralph,
I agree with you...I have always thought HSU had a plug & play program...it seemed like when one guy graduated, they always had another guy that was as good or better.....this year is really the first year that I have seen them struggle to fill key positions.  Obviously, for HSU, the DB's are not up to what HSU has put out there in the past.

I think UMHB has a very similar program....plug & play!!!

Just my .02

[Ron Boerger]

ASC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(Games of September 22)

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Corey George, RB, Fr., East Texas Baptist
East Texas Baptist freshman running back Corey George (Bossier City, LA / Bossier HS, Grambling State) set an American Southwest Conference record with five rushing touchdowns in the Tigers' 41-28 road win over Sul Ross State. George, who had 24 carries for 151 yards and caught one pass for 13 yards, found the end zone three times in the first half - the last one breaking a 21-21 tie - and two in the second half. The previous league record of four rushing TDs was done so six times by five different players  the last time was in 2004.
Jarvis Thrasher, RB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor senior running back Jarvis Thrasher (Temple, TX / THS) ran for a career-high 209 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 carries in the Cru's 48-0 road win over Texas Lutheran. Thrasher, who became the first ASC rusher in the last two seasons to break the 200-yard barrier, had two TD runs of 70-yards or more and broke a UMHB record with an average of 16.1 yards per carry. His three rushing TDs also tied a school mark. Before Week 4, only five players in the country had posted more rushing yards in a single game.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brannon Willisson, DE, Jr., Mississippi College
Mississippi College junior defensive end Brannon Willisson (Fairhope, AL / FHS) had six tackles - five solo, three for loss - two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble and in the Choctaws' 47-14 road win over McMurry. Willisson currently leads the ASC in sacks with five.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dusty Coleman, KR/PR, Sr., Mississippi College
Mississippi College senior Dusty Coleman (Roberstdale, AL / RHS) returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown - the longest return and first all the way back in the ASC this season - in the first quarter of a 47-14 road win over McMurry. Coleman totaled 96 yards in punt returns and also had two kick returns for 33 yards. In addition, he had six catches for 104 yards and a score in the wide receiver spot.

[Bill McCabe]

I was impressed with UMHB's defensive backs.  Barcek is an outstanding player and made an impressive INT early in the game.  All of the DBs are fast and cover well.  The LBs are outstanding.

[Sender]

Ralph,
   I agree with what you are saying.  What I think is that the teams in the ASC run complicated offenses, that require really good athletes.  HSU, McMurry are two examples.  As more and more teams have come about the athletes have been sepread out.

   I have said this before UMHB runs the ball.  Mc is starting to run more of a balanced attack.  When a team runs the ball and can establish the run.  The lineman become better, the DB are better, the LB's are better.  I mean they are fresh.  It is not like UMHB is throwing NFL players out.  They have balanced attack.   Other teams throw the ball 50 times a game.  Quick 3 and out.  INT and next thing you know you are down 21.     

 

[Ralph Turner]

Agreed, sender!   

I am looking forward to Coach Gray's success at building a program.  I like the calibre of student-athlete that he brought in this year.  I hope that it bears fruit.

The ASC is holding a reputation of one of the Top 3-7 conferences in the country, so any winning effort may not be easily discernible in a 10-game season.  We McMurry fans just need to stay behind Coach Gray and give him the 3-5 years it takes to build a program.