FB: American Southwest Conference

[K-Mack]

keith,

only if you want people to think you're pretty

Pretty damn cool.

Y'know, I just want to know that if I'm going to be in a two-foot by three-foot poster in someone's HSU or UMHB shrine basement that I'm not embarassing them. 'Sall. 

[Toby Taff]

Congratulations to Justin Feaster for making the Team of the week!

[kickhoe]

I know that I have bashed the HSU defense this season....remember, I don't know squat about football    so take everything I say with a grain of salt!!!!   

I don't think the HSU defense has seen the likes of what is coming in this week.....they may have got a similar taste the first 2 games, but UMHB can really, really run the ball....and it looks like, from some previous posts, pass it as well.  I'm just afraid that the young DB's are going to be way over matched!!!

I think Feaster is a good QB and the offense will be able to do some things.  But again, they are going to be playing against a much superior defense!!

My guess, UMHB 42 HSU 24.   

[Ralph Turner]

Kickhoe, +1 for your honesty and integrity.

We are all fans of our own teams, and we will yell louder than anyone else.

I think that you have captured the challenge that your Cowboys face.

It should be exciting to see.

And, as has been said so many times before,

"That is why we play the game."

Good luck to both.  Travel safely, fans!

[CruAlum39]

Bill- I almost agree with you on the subject of Neal being the best QB UMHB faced.  ( I would have been a pretty good QB too if I had 7 years of college eligibility!!! )  Except for that guy named Brett Elliot from Linfield.  He was pretty good too!!!   But I think he also had better receivers than Neal.


Another QB that I remember always have a tough time with was Adam King from Howard Payne.  Especially in his early years.  (FR, SO)  He had te ability to throw, an uncanny sense to scramble away from pressure, and he had about 4 receivers that ran good routes, but did better freelancing to get open on crossing and comeback routes.  That was one of the hardest things to stop. He could throw the ball and hurt you, but he was better when you pressured him.   That's tough to prepare for.

I think UMHB will win this week, but I pray that they don't look at HSU's record as a sign of what's to come.  Any given saturday... anything can happen!

I also think the UMHB special teams will help to play a roll in the game.  UMHB has always thrived in that area with many blocked XP's and FG, good return yardage and kick coverage.  I haven't seen them play this year, but I don't think that has changed. 

On the subject of Oliver...

Like I said I have not seen UMHB yet this year, but I can't imagine him being a better receiver that PJ yet.  He has a great reception-TD ratio, but there is more to being a receiver than that.  Why doesn't he have more catches for 2nd or 3rd and longs to get a first down?  Does he block as well downfield on long runs and receptions as PJ did, or as good as he should for a running offense?  Why does UMHB only throw him the ball for TD catches( not that that is a bad thing, just a question)?  Im not saying he is not a good player, and I might not be able to write this because I have not seen him play, but there is definitely more to a receiver than his # of TD receptions. 

PJ also was good enough to block quite a few XP's and FG's (don't have stats with me) and I believe he still has the NCAA record for single game punt return ydg with something like 248 yds and 2 touchdowns.  (I was at that game and MC would just kick it right to him EVERY TIME!!! It was unreal.)

Comments welcome on this subject.

[Bill McCabe]

CruAlum39,  You are correct about Elliott being the best QB.  I was thinking more about the ASC.  HPU wasn't as good a team as HSU and Neal was a fierce competitor.

UMHB was able to pressure Neal in all but one game.  His backups didn't handle the pressure and speed well at all.  That should be a key aspect of this weeks game.

[SRDAD]

  This Saturday is a big one! Wish I could go to Hsu for the game. Hsu better score 55-60, from what I've seen of the Cru.

[Kelly Boggs]

In the past, I have approached the UMHB vs HSU game with cautious optimism. I knew the CRU could win, but would they? Both teams seemed to be so evenly matched that the game could go either way.

Even though this has become a big rivalry game and anything can happen, I feel really good about UMHB going into this game. I will even go out on a limb and say they win by 4 touchdowns. And, if I am wrong, I like my crow fried and smothered in gravy with fries on the side.

[Ron Boerger]

Agreed.  I don't see how a team giving up 40 PPG to the likes of LC and MC (yes, much improved, but not UMHB-caliber) is going to be able to stop the Cru. 

But ... it's a rivalry game, even though it's been one-sided recently, and sh*t happens. 

[used2b]

congrats to all of the HSU Cowboys and fans.
-that win vs. MC was huge for the future. A loss may have been a major blow to the Karma of HSU. I mean, a loss might have been a signal that the Cowboys were not in the Middle of a two team yearly race for the top team in the ASC. They have done a great job of not allowing MC to climb up the ladder of the ASC to be the team that might challenge for the conference.
- I have long thought that the MC defense was going to be the Achilles heal (heel) of Norman Joseph's program. They have been awful. A coordinator change, though the  new coordinator has to be better than the last, hasnt seemed to be much of a positive. To win this conference, you have to have some semblance of Defense. Anyone know if they have really improved? The years past have seen them to be horrible.

[Josh Bowerman]

HSU-UMHB game notes available on line now:

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hsim/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf

[golden_dome]

- I have long thought that the MC defense was going to be the Achilles heal (heel) of Norman Joseph's program. They have been awful. A coordinator change, though the  new coordinator has to be better than the last, hasnt seemed to be much of a positive. To win this conference, you have to have some semblance of Defense. Anyone know if they have really improved? The years past have seen them to be horrible.

I would agree the defense has struggled the last few years, but this year they have been solid except for last week. I think the defensive backs would be the first to say they were terrible against HSU, but I think the season will prove out that they were better than they played. There were probably 4-5 passes that could have been picked but the HSU receivers won all the battles in the air. There also was a fumbled shotgun snap by HSU at the 50-yard line with two minutes remaining, but Feaster wrestled the ball away from the hands of one of the MC d-lineman. Plays like that decided the game.

Even including last week's 495 passing yards allowed, the MC defense still ranks 2nd in the league in scoring defense (22.5) and 1st in rushing defense (47.5) and yards per rush (1.6). They are also 3rd in total defense (336.5) and lead the league in sacks (19) and tackles for loss (46-227). The defense is much improved but they had a forgettable second half against HSU.

congrats to all of the HSU Cowboys and fans.
-that win vs. MC was huge for the future. A loss may have been a major blow to the Karma of HSU. I mean, a loss might have been a signal that the Cowboys were not in the Middle of a two team yearly race for the top team in the ASC. They have done a great job of not allowing MC to climb up the ladder of the ASC to be the team that might challenge for the conference.

I think you are right about how big that win was for HSU. MC is the only other school in the league to win an outright ASC Championship besides HSU and UMHB. If they can get past LC  this weekend, they will get another shot at cracking the ASC's top tier with the UMHB game. But this weekend's LC game should be interesting, the Wildcats have now won four in a row over us in a game that has become a pretty good rivalry.

[Ralph Turner]

Sul Ross was co-champs with HSU in 1996.  (Only Miss Coll, McM, HSU, HPU, SRSU and AC were playing ball.)

ETBU was tri-champ in 2003.  (By now, ETBU, LaCollege, UMHB and Texas Lutheran had resumed football.)

[golden_dome]

Sul Ross was co-champs with HSU in 1996.  (Only Miss Coll, McM, HSU, HPU, SRSU and AC were playing ball.)

ETBU was tri-champ in 2003.  (By now, ETBU, LaCollege, UMHB and Texas Lutheran had resumed football.)

Thanks for the correction Ralph, meant to put outright championship.

[kickhoe]

Well, it's Wednesday afternoon.....almost 3:30pm....on the downhill side of the week before the big game....HSU/UMHB....

As the famous New Orleans chef puts it......it's time to "kick it up a notch"!!!

Now, as several of the posters of noted recently, I apparently don't know squat about football....I would like to think that that is not the case, but who knows.....but what I do know is that my Cowboys need something to fire them up for this weekend.  A lot of times all that takes is some good "bulletin board" material.

Take this for instance.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S52B1bLFNw

I especially love the title........also note the rap in the background......

My 'Boys are going to be in for a tough game this weekend.....but maybe some inspiration from some UMHB hack will do the trick!!!