FB: American Southwest Conference

[tlugrad2000]

Dallas, this is the only game that UMHB has had all season that even remotely presented a threat to them.  However, it is a NON-CONFERENCE game and will get them to the playoffs where there are few, if any teams in the South or west that can stop them on the way to the Stagg Bowl.  Stats were very close for both teams.  The only major differences were poor judgements that could have been prevented by a team of such a high caliber.  They have been winning by such large margins all year they may have thought this not to be the fight they found it to be.  But, rest assured, they realize it now and are making adjustments.  Whoa be to the next few teams who think they can do what UWW did.

[dsc]

TLUGrad,

I tend to agree with you.  The stats were, in fact, relatively very close.  I do wish the Cru's passing game were better, but who knows...the playoff games may be in cold weather...and so the running game will be very important.

Not to repeat myself, but here's wishing the best for UMHB's Crusaders!  (I can't believe I am saying that, but hey, we're all from TEXAS!)  8)

Go Cowboys...beat TLU...AND McMurry!  Both these games should be very interesting.

[dallas]

Dallas, this is the only game that UMHB has had all season that even remotely presented a threat to them.  However, it is a NON-CONFERENCE game and will get them to the playoffs where there are few, if any teams in the South or west that can stop them on the way to the Stagg Bowl.  Stats were very close for both teams.  The only major differences were poor judgements that could have been prevented by a team of such a high caliber.  They have been winning by such large margins all year they may have thought this not to be the fight they found it to be.  But, rest assured, they realize it now and are making adjustments.  Whoa be to the next few teams who think they can do what UWW did.

2000, I think MHB is a very, very good team that lost to a better team on Saturday.  I think it's obvious the early turnovers killed them, and were absolutely uncharacteristic of MHB this year, but based on what I saw Saturday, I truly do not know if the MHB defense would have been able to stop the passing game of UWW if they needed to.  They focused on Beaver the whole game, and did a fantastic job, but Jones basically did what he wanted to throughout the game when he needed to.  Take the turnovers away and I still think the UWW wins this game in a very convincing fashion.  Without question.

Regarding the playoffs, I think MHB will represent the South very well, but your statement might be a little bold in my opinion.  There are a lot of games in the playoffs and a lot better teams out there.  I wouldn't even make that statemtent about UWW at this juncture...not even close.  I do feel much better about UWW after Saturday, and I feel they are getting better and better every single week, but they have not even won WIAC yet!    

I can also say, without reservation, that if UWW was coming off of a five turnover, 41-14 loss, I certainly wouldn't be talking about "showing yankees how to play" and discussing how we will blow through everyone in the playoffs on our way to Salem.  I would be concerned about regrouping and playing better for the next opponent.    

 

 

[Toby Taff]

Dallas, this is the only game that UMHB has had all season that even remotely presented a threat to them.  However, it is a NON-CONFERENCE game and will get them to the playoffs where there are few, if any teams in the South or west that can stop them on the way to the Stagg Bowl.  Stats were very close for both teams.  The only major differences were poor judgements that could have been prevented by a team of such a high caliber.  They have been winning by such large margins all year they may have thought this not to be the fight they found it to be.  But, rest assured, they realize it now and are making adjustments.  Whoa be to the next few teams who think they can do what UWW did.

2000, I think MHB is a very, very good team that lost to a better team on Saturday.  I think it's obvious the early turnovers killed them, and were absolutely uncharacteristic of MHB this year, but based on what I saw Saturday, I truly do not know if the MHB defense would have been able to stop the passing game of UWW if they needed to.  They focused on Beaver the whole game, and did a fantastic job, but Jones basically did what he wanted to throughout the game when he needed to.  Take the turnovers away and I still think the UWW wins this game in a very convincing fashion.  Without question.

I won't completely disagree with you, but I will say that without the turnovers this game is much closer at the half and MHB has a chance to make a run at it.  jones did a great job.  The O line did a great job giving him time and protection, but I thin the 2 teams are closer than you seem to be suggesting.  I said on the WIAC board that I hoped whichever way it came out the 2 would meet again in the playoffs.  Both need to be focused for that to happen. IF nothing else, the season just came into sharp focus for UMHB.  Winning one of the next 2 wins them the ASC, 2 of 2 probably means they host a game.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I hope for the rematch.

On a side note.  How bad do you feel for ETBU right now.  Next week will mark the second time in 4 seasons that the ETBU-UMHB game followed a bad beat down by a highly ranked opponent. Last time the final was 60-33.  Come on Cru.  Focus in and bring home the homecoming victory!  See the Cru faithful on Saturday.

[dallas]

I think a rematch would be great to see, and also agree that it would be a closer game. 

Good luck MHB and represent the South well. 

[tlugrad2000]

On any given Friday night, Saturday or Sunday any team can beat any other team.  Statistically it was anybody's to win or lose.   On the score-board it was a different story.  It is amazing how brains can win over braun in football because of poor mental mistakes unless the other team isn't smart to capitalize on those mistakes. 

UWW capitalized on turnovers that are totally uncharacteristic of this UMHB squad.  Without the mental mistakes this would have been a 10 or 14 point difference on either side of the ball and not the bloodletting that it was .  In Welch's defense, until we have walked a mile in his cleats it is hard for us to know what spooked him into 3 INTs and the other turnovers unless we were playing right beside him or if we were in his head. 

If wishes were fishes....  The past is the past. UMHB must look forward and correct the mental mistakes and I assure you they will not be repeated and if they are then UMHB has less discipline than I have given them credit for this year.  UMHB has beat most of its opponnents by 20 points or more this season.  What was the spread with UWW?  I would bet UMHB feels as bad as TLU did when UMHB beat them 48-0.  Even though UMHB did not get beat that bad, this loss was an embarassment to the program because of the lack of discipline UMHB is consistantly known for. 

Lack of discipline has kept TLU from being a UMHB caliber football team.  Now they have a coach that is bringing that brand of football to Seguin.

For the HSU fans, TLU beat Howard Payne who happened to beat HSU.  Don't be so sure we are a gimme there HSU fans! (LOL).  This is a total rebuild year for TLU with a new coaching staff and a new play book.  Watch us in two seasons for great things!

[Weak Safety]

For the HSU fans, TLU beat Howard Payne who happened to beat HSU.  Don't be so sure we are a gimme there HSU fans! (LOL).  This is a total rebuild year for TLU with a new coaching staff and a new play book.  Watch us in two seasons for great things!

Using that logic, HSU beat ETBU, MC, and Sul Ross, all of whom happened to beat TLU.  Does that matter?  No.  I expect a good game Saturday.  After UMHB, everyone seems pretty equal this year. 

[Goal Line Stand]

UWW capitalized on turnovers that are totally uncharacteristic of this UMHB squad.  Without the mental mistakes this would have been a 10 or 14 point difference on either side of the ball and not the bloodletting that it was .  In Welch's defense, until we have walked a mile in his cleats it is hard for us to know what spooked him into 3 INTs and the other turnovers unless we were playing right beside him or if we were in his head. 

If I had to guess, I would say the defense.   

Maybe turnovers have not been characteristic of this Cru team because no defense has stopped their run like UWW  did and forced them to use their passing game as much.  Great defenses can create turnovers directly such as stripping the ball and forcing fumbles or create an environment of pressure through their pass rush that increases the chances of mistakes to be made by the QB and O, IMO. Good luck to the Cru the rest of the way.
 

[Toby Taff]

UWW capitalized on turnovers that are totally uncharacteristic of this UMHB squad.  Without the mental mistakes this would have been a 10 or 14 point difference on either side of the ball and not the bloodletting that it was .  In Welch's defense, until we have walked a mile in his cleats it is hard for us to know what spooked him into 3 INTs and the other turnovers unless we were playing right beside him or if we were in his head. 

If I had to guess, I would say the defense.   

Maybe turnovers have not been characteristic of this Cru team because no defense has stopped their run like UWW  did and forced them to use their passing game as much.  Great defenses can create turnovers directly such as stripping the ball and forcing fumbles or create an environment of pressure through their pass rush that increases the chances of mistakes to be made by the QB and O, IMO. Good luck to the Cru the rest of the way.
 

I have a few problems with the statement in bold.  The 1st INT was on the second play of the second drive of the game following a 5 yard run.  The run hadn't been shut down yet.  The UWW d did a great job, but they did give up over 160 yds of rushing, and the picks I saw Welch throw weren't all because he was under heavy pressure at the time.  He made some bad decisions/throws.  Add to that fumbles without contact and a team is shooting itself in the foot and making it that much easier for the d to do the great job they did.  Don't get me wrong, the right team won the game Saturday, but Saturday was not representative of typical UMHB football.  Some of that was a hyped up d by UWW playing well, especially on the interior part of the line, but some of it was UMHB misfiring from the starting gun.  The result? Good field position for UWW, bonus points on the pick 6 plays, and playing from behind for UMHB which is a new experience for most of the team.  I think this one has to be chalked up to the learning process for the Cru, and should the two meet again this year I would expect the final score to be very different, not necessarily a win for UMHB, but certainly not the monkeystomping I saw saturday.

[Goal Line Stand]

Ya, I would agree with some of your points but atleast one INT was thrown as he was being hit.  I understand that every O can make unforced mental mistakes, QB just makes the wrong decision, WR's not running a route right, etc.  But when I see a game with that many TO's, I first look hard at what the defense did. I just have a problem when a team commits that many TO's and the pat reason is not that the defense did well but that the losing team just screwed up.  Not that anyone here has been saying that.  Well, maybe 2000 who seems to think that the QB play was more a result of the game being played near Halloween and not the quality of the opponent.   Just kidding!    8)

We're cool.  You have a class program from top to bottom and great fans.  Good luck with the rest of the season.  If both win out, I will not be looking forward to a re-match should it happen.

[Kelly Boggs]

I was frustrated Saturday when I mentioned third down conversion in reference to UWW's passing. So, they did not convert on as many third downs as it seemed at the time, the fact remains that Jones was very effective with the short passing game.

I am curious. The UWW broadcasters said that sometime during the pre-game, some UMHB players went to the center of the field and were stomping and generally acting the fool on UWW's logo/W. Can anyone confirm this or shed an additional light.

[Rick Akins]

I have read all the comments here about the UMHB/UWW game.  I have written my "expert" treatise on the game on the Daily Dose about the game. I was there, live and in person, not sure how many of you were.  It was really windy and all the interceptions were into the strong wind. Again, read my long "winded" comments over there. I do not have time to restate, but Welch was put into a position to fail, IMHO. The wrong kind of throws, too early in the game, against the wind, against a great team. As Darrell Royal said, "dance with who brung ya."

[Ralph Turner]

Rick, thanks for the posts from a first-hand account.

"Wind" is a fact of life in Texas football.  They put windfarms on the hilltops south of Abilene.  Not being able to throw a football according to the dictates of the wind direction and speed is a "make-or-break" factor in Texas football.

I really hope that UMHB can rebound from this.  The whole conference has taken this hit.

[crufootball]

UMHBalum-n-CenLa, in the pre-game not just some of the UMHB players went to the center of the field all of them did. However what they did was something they do before every game thus far I have seen. For those of you who have been to a game have probably seen what they did. Its when before the game they have someome (Brett Parker for this game) catch a ball at midfield and all of the players surround him and they get "hyped" before the game. It wasn't anything disrespectful or anything just something they do before every game.

[Kelly Boggs]

Changing the subject to something a bit more lighthearted, at least from a Trinity fan's perspective, the end of the Trinity/Millsaps game one of the wildest plays I have ever seen. The only thing thing that makes the finish of the 1982 Standford vs Cal ending a bit more crazy was on the field.

Trinity made 15 laterals on its play and I think I recall that Cal made about 5. Of course the Cal runner and would-be tacklers had to navigate the Stanford band the last 20 yards. Also, the Cal play took right at 30 seconds to unfold while Trinity's took about a minute.

I guess it goes to show that it ain't over 'till its over.