FB: American Southwest Conference

[umhb2001]

I definately agree as well!  I think that one of the problems that UMHB faced this year was the fact that they steamrolled everyone.  Then we faced UWW and they, obviously, were a really great team.  I don't feel that we were entirely prepared.  I think that is why we played as well as we did in the semi's.  If we had played a DIV 2 school, or some other highly ranked team, then we woul have been more prepared.  CN and Wesley were not what they have been and so we weren't up to the caliber needed to win that game.  I hope that we can take this expierience and run with it, and hopefully pass a little, next year.

Excuse me?

I've been pretty good this year, but I cannot and will not let this pass.  Are you trying to suggest that UMHB is so great that they have to play D2 competition just to season up?

This is simply ridiculous.  And stupid.  On many levels.

Look at what playing a D2 school did for WW.  It helped.  Also, our D and O hadn't played an entire game until WW.  If you schedule some stronger apponents to yes, WARM UP, then you know what it takes to win a game.  Knowing in your mind and knowing it in your preparation and game play are two different things.  I'm not saying that UMHB is SO amazing, but when you look at our conference, again, playing a stronger opponent early in the season could help us get over the hump.  I mean, we were heads above any competition in ASC.  You can't deny that.

[Cru15]

Angelo State?

[Ralph Turner]

D-2's and UMHB?

Incarnate Word is adding football in 2009.

Panhandle State Oklahoma would probably get trounced by UMHB.  Lincoln Missouri is a D-2 independent, and lost to Millsaps by 42 in 2006.

Wanna try some Lone Star Conference schools?

Southern Arkansas?  They have shown themselves to be 6 TD's better than ETBU (in 2005).

Angelo State may be the closest.   

[umhb2001]

Look, I'm not saying I know everything.  I just think stiffer competition would produce a preparedness that would bring about even better playing.  I don't know who that competition would or should be, but we need to find it.  I, for one, would love to keep UWW, CN, or some other perrinially top ranked team on the season schedule.  I think it is good for the program and good for the game.

[crufootball]

I would love to see UMHB play UWW and CNU again. I don't know if it is true but I heard that UWW won't be on the schedule next year.

Also I have all the confidence in the world in Coach Pete, but the Cru are losing 23 seniors and the conference should be better next year, so maybe those ASC games won't be as one-sided as they were this year.

[footballfan413]

I definately agree as well!  I think that one of the problems that UMHB faced this year was the fact that they steamrolled everyone.  Then we faced UWW and they, obviously, were a really great team.  I don't feel that we were entirely prepared.  I think that is why we played as well as we did in the semi's.  If we had played a DIV 2 school, or some other highly ranked team, then we woul have been more prepared.  CN and Wesley were not what they have been and so we weren't up to the caliber needed to win that game.  I hope that we can take this expierience and run with it, and hopefully pass a little, next year.

Excuse me?

I've been pretty good this year, but I cannot and will not let this pass.  Are you trying to suggest that UMHB is so great that they have to play D2 competition just to season up?

This is simply ridiculous.  And stupid.  On many levels.

Why does that have to be stupid and ridiculous?  I'm just saying that I don't think that we were prepared for our first meeting against Whitewater, that that game helped us against Wesley, and subsiquently aided our strong play against WW again in the playoffs.  To say that close games don't help you, and that tough opponents don't help you before entering conference play and playoffs is stupid.  Look App. St.  They played an amazing game against Michigan and went on to win the national championship.  Did this game help them to get ready for a division they weren't picked to win, yes.  Did our D help WW prepare for MU?  Yes.  You can't say that we really had a contest until our game agaisnt WW, so playing games that prepare us for tougher teams is a good idea, not a stupid one.

Hope I can join in this discussion with you despite being a UWW poster.  I think you really  have a valid point here.  I have been leary of taking on too tough of a non-conference schedule in past years preferring a few cupcakes and getting the boys into conference play as healthy and rested as possible.  Especially playing in the tough WIAC with its reputation for beating each other up.  But I believe that it did really work to our advantage this year playing St. Cloud, (luckily a loss to a D-2 school doesn't hurt you,)  and UMHB twice as long as we were able to win and keep the high ranking for home field advantage in the play-offs.  The word on UMHB before the first meeting and MUC were that both teams had crushed their competition and that meant that the starters had not played many 4 quarter games.  The Hawks, on the other hand, had enough games that challenged them and helped them to develop their mental and physical preparedness that was crucial when playing against the elite teams.  They took nothing for granted, had oportunities to learn to rely on each other and that they must come to play each and every down.  Absolutely, the 2nd meeting of these two teams prepared the Hawks for the Stagg.  Adversity is much harder to handle when everything has been a walk in the park. Unfortunately, the Cru paid a heavy price for their mid season loss to the Hawks being seeded only 4th which was a crock in my opinion but happily they were able to prevail and become the South Region Champs.  That is the downside of scheduling the tough non-conference opponents.  This home-home contract was really terriffic and I applaud the Cru and their program on a stellar year.  Good luck next season and it was great to see roocru again and meet his son at Stone Station.

[Ron Boerger]

Also I have all the confidence in the world in Coach Pete, but the Cru are losing 23 seniors and the conference should be better next year, so maybe those ASC games won't be as one-sided as they were this year.

I looked at the two-deep against UW-W, here's what UMHB loses:

Offensive starters:  LG, C, TE, WR, QB, TB, FB
Defensive starters:  DE (x2), LB, CB, SS
Specialists:  P, K, LS, KR

Backups:  DE, CB, PR

That's a lot.  I know Pete rotates a lot of players in but there's a lot of skill going out the door. 

[footballfan413]

And just to be clear, playing a D-2 school was not the preferred option, just couldn't find a D-3 team that wanted to fill the last spot on our schedule.  Right now we have three open dates with no non-conference teams scheduled.  Winning the championship probably isn't going to help that much either. And the Hawks will be losing 23 seniors with 17 of them being starters.  Here's to reloading for both teams.

[fatboy]

I would say a 47 point average margin of victory in the ASC did not prepared the crusaders to play an entire game aginest play-off teams.  So yes the ASC as a whole waqs down this year and I think it hurt UMHB in the long run. Sorry if this upsets anyone but I believe it is the truth.

[HSWho2007]

fatboy,
I agree completely. UMHB wasn't really challenged until UWW. After that game it was a new UMHB squad.
I think the CRU will fill in the open spots. They do have 7 of the top 10 o-linemen from the nations #1 rushing O coming back, and enough weapons in the backfield to light up the scoreboard.
On the topic of the defense.... Really? Everything will be fine.

[DustySJU]

East Texas Baptist;

Welcome to Collegeville.  Your squad has just been announced as the 2008 home opening opponent.

C'mon over to the West and join the foray on the MIAC board.

Developing....

[fatboy]

I do think the cru will be good next year but they will need to find replacement for freeman, and a good RB to keep the one two punch going, also need to replace 4 year starter at QB it will be tough, but hopefully the ASC defense's don't improve to much

[Ralph Turner]

ETBU going to SJU?

That is a great game!

That puts ETBU on the national stage during opening weekend!

[Josh Bowerman]

It's stupid and ridiculous because when the Crusaders lose a conference game--and they will--then none of the non-conference games can count for or against them when determining a Pool C berth into the national playoffs.

If your coaches haven't figured that out yet, then I can't help.

On a brighter note, it sounds from the above post as if ETBU has finally seen the light with regard to DIII competition.  Maybe all of Pat's ranting and raving has finally had an affect...

[TXGuru]

Coach Sartain is awakening a sleeping giant at ETBU.