FB: American Southwest Conference

[1CRU5]

I have your back too TX2OK, you can't help your a HCMFer for life! haha It's nice to see CruAlum90 is keepin it real too!

[golden_dome]

Here is the MC/UMHB clip from the Jackson Clarion Ledger's Small College Notebook this week. You can see the full weekly report by Mike Christensen at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/SPORTS030105/710180352/1085/SPORTS

Mary Hardin-Baylor (6-0, 5-0 ASC)-MC (5-1, 3-1): The Crusaders lead the nation in rushing offense, rank No. 2 in scoring offense and check in at No. 6 in rush defense. No team has come within 32 points of beating them.

"They're a special team, I tell you," said MC coach Norman Joseph. "They're ranked No. 2 (behind two-time defending D-III national champion Mount Union) but a lot of people are saying they should be No. 1. ... They've got weapons all over the place. They're an unbelievable team."

The Choctaws are no slouches themselves, ranking No. 8 in the country in total offense and No. 4 in rush defense, which could be the critical factor in the game.

"We've gotta defend their running game, and then go from there," Joseph said. "If they have success running, they'll be hard to deal with."

Key player: Brannon Willisson, MC defensive end. Willisson leads the American Southwest Conference with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 6.0 sacks. If he can disrupt MHB's offensive rhythm, the Choctaws will be much the better for it.

[1CRU5]

Don't think the Choctaws have a chance in this one! It'll be the just like every other week. My guess is 58-17.

[Zmotion10 out on 2]

Don't think the Choctaws have a chance in this one! It'll be the just like every other week. My guess is 58-17.

I think your right, but will hope for a MC win and the luck with a coin toss (if HSU can win out).

I will sure jump on the UMHB bandwagon should MC lose and support the ASC.

[roocru]

A lot of people seem to be talking about some of the stats for UMHB and Mississippi College.  I wish I could put it in a better format, but listed below are the national stats and rankings for the two teams.  The teams in the first column are ranked the highest.  UMHB ranks higher in 19 of the 24 categories, however, many are actually quite close.  I am not making any kind of statement, but rather just putting this information out there for everyone to see and use as they see fit!!


American Southwest         
Football National Ranking Summary         
Thru Games 10/13/2007

All Rankings Through 231 Teams         
Category                   Team                   Rank   Actual       Team                   Rank   Actual 
Total Offense              Mary Hardin-Baylor   5   512.8   Mississippi Col.   8   471.5
Total Defense    Mary Hardin-Baylor   17   246.5   Mississippi Col.   81   306.5
Rushing Offense    Mary Hardin-Baylor   1   341.0   Mississippi Col.   69   180.0
Rushing Defense     Mississippi Col.   4   44.0   Mary Hardin-Baylor   6   52.0
Passing Offense    Mississippi Col.   15   291.5   Mary Hardin-Baylor   146   171.8
Pass Efficiency Defense
                  Mary Hardin-Baylor   34   95.4   Mississippi Col.   103   112.8
Scoring Offense      Mary Hardin-Baylor   2   55.3   Mississippi Col.   10   40.3
Scoring Defense      Mary Hardin-Baylor   19   13.3   Mississippi Col.   103   21.8
Turnover Margin    Mary Hardin-Baylor   2   2.0   Mississippi Col.   85   0.3
Team Kickoff Returns
                   Mississippi Col.   27   22.7   Mary Hardin-Baylor   121   18.8
Team Punt Returns  Mary Hardin-Baylor   30   12.8   Mississippi Col.   37   12.4
Team Tackles for Loss
                   Mary Hardin-Baylor   1   11.8   Mississippi Col.   2   11.5
Team Pass Sacks      Mississippi Col.   3   4.7   Mary Hardin-Baylor   13   3.8
Team Passing Efficiency
                   Mary Hardin-Baylor   6   172.6   Mississippi Col.   43   142.8
Pass Sacks Allowed Mary Hardin-Baylor   6   0.8   Mississippi Col.   87   1.8
Kick Off Return Defense
                   Mary Hardin-Baylor   20   14.9   Mississippi Col.   147   19.8
Punt Return Defense Mary Hardin-Baylor   48   5.5   Mississippi Col.   209   13.5
Turnovers Lost    Mary Hardin-Baylor   81   12.0   Mississippi Col.   81   12.0
Turnovers Gained     Mary Hardin-Baylor   6   24.0   Mississippi Col.   91   14.0
Passes Had Intercepted
                                Mary Hardin-Baylor   16   3.0   Mississippi Col.   95   7.0
Fumbles Lost           Mississippi Col.   88   5.0   Mary Hardin-Baylor   194   9.0
Passes Intercepted Mary Hardin-Baylor   9   14.0   Mississippi Col.   29   11.0
Team Net Punting    Mary Hardin-Baylor   21   34.7   Mississippi Col.   136   29.9
Fumbles Recovered Mary Hardin-Baylor   14   10.0   Mississippi Col.   188   3.0

[crufootball]

Nice stats roocru, hopefully UMHB can focus on this game and get a win.

On a side note, I went and looked at the national stats for D3 and was blown away by how dominant Mt.Union is this year.
They the best in the country in:
Total Offense
Total Defense
Rushing defense
Scoring offense
Scoring defense
Team Passing efficiency
Punt return defense
Passes intercepted

And the are second in the nation at rushing offense and team kickoff returns. I love watching the Cru, but man I wish I could see that team in action

[used2b]

i would like to see MC win just for the excitement factor.
-However, I just don't believe their Defense is very good. Last year, thier front 7 was horrible. No one can improve overnight into one of the best in the country unless you have scholarship players move in or just have a ton of people coming back from injury. -
-MC will attempt to keep the UMHB offense on the sidelines with a ball control strategy of thier own. For this to happen, thy'll have to have a supreme plan for the blitz (which is possible), but they'll have to make the most of every play to beat UMHB's Defense. I saw this happen 1 time 2003, when ETBU just kept making plays.

[CruGuy]

You know the cowboy faithful are hurting when Wes makes comments like this in the ATR and nobody gives him any flack for it.

"But, this will be the best team UMHB has seen yet this season."

HSU went on the road and beat MC at MC. That road trip is something that shouldn't be underrated. MC might play UMHB closer than HSU did but I would be extremely careful saying that they're absolutely better than HSU. That's a very Pete Carroll thing to do.

[DPU3619]

Just my opinion, thank you.  I don't underrate an HSU win on the road in Clinton.  It's a great win.  I never said anything otherwise about it, if you read the entire column.  That also isn't being Pete Carroll about it, whatever that means.  I'd appreciate it if you left the comparisons at home from now on.

Now, I have never thought that a "'whoever has the football last wins" style football game gives me the crystal clear answer as to who the better football team is.  Again, just my opinion.  Sure, HSU beat 'em, and that's important. But, when compiled with the rest of the results of each team, I went a different direction.  There's more to each team than the head-to-head result when the two played, regardless of whose house it was in.

Also, both the offensive and defensive numbers are better for Mississippi College.  Sure, MC didn't play the same schedule, but they did play Millsaps.  That was a very similar style game to the HSU/MC game.  Didn't tell me a whole lot who was better, particularly due to the circumstances. 

Furthermore, I don't care who you are or aren't playing, 41 points per game allowed is just not good.  Feaster's a great player and they light up the scoreboard, but the fact that they haven't stopped anybody they've played makes me rate them lower.  For that reason, the combination of the offense and of the defense, I gave the nod to MC. 

Seemed pretty simple and fairly logical to me.  Perhaps it isn't.  I'm certainly willing to discuss it.  My opinion is never set in stone. 

[baddog]

Wes -- What seems more simple, logical  and basic to me is the HSU-MC score: 45-42 (at MC). Now there's a stat and fact (not an opinion) that is set in stone!
Feaster is pretty good, but is only a part of a team -- and that includes a defense that has, well, struggled. Nevertheless, the team effort at MC was 45-42. No one can change that. And isn't the score suppose to be the measure of the better team? 
If not, let's just keep the other stats and forget the score!

[kickhoe]

I'll be there, Brian.  And I must say, you were lookin' good in the alumni magazine I received in yesterday's mail!   

Nice pic, eh?!?!?!   

Hopefully, I'll see you there....our seats for the game are directly under Dr. McGraw...I'll be there with my family and my wife's parents.

[Josh Bowerman]

I'll be there, Brian.  And I must say, you were lookin' good in the alumni magazine I received in yesterday's mail!   

Nice pic, eh?!?!?!   

Hopefully, I'll see you there....our seats for the game are directly under Dr. McGraw...I'll be there with my family and my wife's parents.

I'll be on the field, camera in tow.  Look for the floppy hat.

[DPU3619]

Wes -- What seems more simple, logical  and basic to me is the HSU-MC score: 45-42 (at MC). Now there's a stat and fact (not an opinion) that is set in stone!
Feaster is pretty good, but is only a part of a team -- and that includes a defense that has, well, struggled. Nevertheless, the team effort at MC was 45-42. No one can change that. And isn't the score suppose to be the measure of the better team? 
If not, let's just keep the other stats and forget the score!

I feel that I have addressed everything you claim in this paragraph:

Now, I have never thought that a "'whoever has the football last wins" style football game gives me the crystal clear answer as to who the better football team is.  Again, just my opinion.  Sure, HSU beat 'em, and that's important. But, when compiled with the rest of the results of each team, I went a different direction.  There's more to each team than the head-to-head result when the two played, regardless of whose house it was in.

A quick edit on that paragraph, I should have said "There's more to each team than the head-to-head result when the two played a shootout, regardless of whose house it was in."  My apologies. 

I will say this:  You speak about a "team" win, my friend.  The team effort was a win at MC.  Allow me to employ the same concept, if you don't mind.  While Hardin-Simmons beat Mississippi College that day, I still stand by my statement that this will be the best football team that UMHB has seen.  I like the balance MC has on offense.  HSU (2nd passing, 6th rushing in the conference) is a bit more one-dimensional than MC has been (2nd passing, 3rd rushing).   You HAVE to be able to both run and pass against the Purple Crush to have a chance to beat them. 

I think most of us would also agree that the Choctaws are better on defense.  They've got a better chance of slowing down the Crusader ground game than HSU did (although that chance may still be a VERY small one, relatively).  The numbers show that fact pretty clearly.  Those reasons are why I used that phrase.

[Pat Coleman]

Those reasons are why I used that phrase.

And why, when I edited the column, I didn't edit that statement to conform with the on-field result.

[CruGuy]

Wes, if I had karma priveleges I'd give you some right now. You've made some bold statements and you're not backing down from them. I'm saying that I would have said something like MC might be the best team UMHB has seen, or probably will be the best team UMHB has seen. I would be quite careful about saying it so definitely. I'm also just shocked that the HSU fans didn't come out of the wood work about it. Right now we're at the top and I have nothing to be upset about.

Furthermore, I don't care who you are or aren't playing, 41 points per game allowed is just not good. 

If you think MC is going to hold UMHB under 41 you're making some even bolder predictions. They gave up 45 to Hardin-Simmons.

My Pete Carroll comparison is refering to the statements he made after the 2005 Rose Bowl when he lost to Texas and then said he still thought that USC was a better team.  My opinion on games that end on the last possession is that the teams are fairly even skill wise and that better teams find ways to win. If you can do it on the road, that's even more impressive. You think Florida would've beaten LSU in the swamp ? no doubt. You think Kentucky could've beaten LSU in Baton Rouge ?.....

"I think most of us would also agree that the Choctaws are better on defense.  They've got a better chance of slowing down the Crusader ground game than HSU did (although that chance may still be a VERY small one, relatively).  The numbers show that fact pretty clearly.  Those reasons are why I used that phrase."

sorry I couldn't get the quote box for that, but I think here is where I disagree (and I think most others would as well, but I'll try not to speak for them), I think HSU has a had much tougher schedule and stats aren't always as crystal clear as they look.  Wait until MC plays UMHB and ETBU and throw out the out of conference games and then let's see what those defensive numbers say.

I guess this is why they play the games.