FB: American Southwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

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.

So it's not the fact that playing a D-II school is a good experience that you consider stupid and ridiculous, it's what it does for playoff chances?

That makes a lot more sense but I don't think it's what anyone thought you were referencing originally.

[Toby Taff]

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.

So it's not the fact that playing a D-II school is a good experience that you consider stupid and ridiculous, it's what it does for playoff chances?

That makes a lot more sense but I don't think it's what anyone thought you were referencing originally.

You're probably right, but for anyone that knows Josh, it makes sense that playoff implications are at the fore.

[Ralph Turner]

I hope that the Championships committee will review the impact of the criteria and how UMHB's loss to UWW dropped them from a #1/#2 seed to a #4 seed.

I also think that the criteria favor those 7-member conferences that can load up on geographically close in-region games vs. weaker conferences.  I think that W&J was one example (having provisional members impacted their total of in-region games).  The #2 seed in the North region (Wabash) lost to the #3 team in the SCAC (DePauw) in a game with "playoff atmosphere", the Monon Bell game.  Can we really believe that Wabash was seeded correctly?  In the next 2-3 years, we can see whether it appears that the ASC and the SCAC have received short shrift in Pool C.

[Josh Bowerman]

That was 3/4th of my main thrust, Pat (the "stupid" part, at least).  The other 1/4th is that it's ridiculous, IMO, to have one great season and assume that you're just so much better than the rest of DIII that you have to play DII competition just to level up.  How short-sighted is that, especially when the Crusaders are losing as much as they are?

Even in the year UMHB made it to the Stagg Bowl, they were certainly tested--even beaten--by in-conference, DIII competition.  This (2007) was the first, and only to date, season the team was clearly superior to everyone they played.  And as I mentioned above, most of these players won't be back next year.

I don't want to take anything away from this year's UMHB team.  They were great--I thought they were maybe one of the four or five the best DIII teams (certainly one of the top one or two defenses at this level) that I'd ever seen--in any year.  But they're a long way from being able to say that they're consistently that much better than the rest of the peons in DIII and the ASC--which is what I believe was being more than just insinuated earlier.

[Josh Bowerman]

I also think that the criteria favor those 7-member conferences that can load up on geographically close in-region games vs. weaker conferences.  I think that W&J was one example (having provisional members impacted their total of in-region games).  The #2 seed in the North region (Wabash) lost to the #3 team in the SCAC (DePauw) in a game with "playoff atmosphere", the Monon Bell game.  Can we really believe that Wabash was seeded correctly?  In the next 2-3 years, we can see whether it appears that the ASC and the SCAC has received short shrift in Pool C.

I agree with you completely, Ralph.  I think we should give the selection committee a break this year, though--objectively speaking, the ASC and SCAC weren't really all that close to being deserving of a Pool C in 2007.

I really do believe, however, that the South Region and The West Region are the two toughest to get out of, come playoff time, just about every year.

[jaypeter]

I would say that a strong conference schedule can make a big difference.  As a Mount Union fan, I wonder a little bit "what could have been" if the OAC had not had a somewhat down year.  Unfortunately, with our scheduling restrictions, even playing a good non-conference schedule (St. John Fisher the next two years) only accounts for one game.  I find myself rooting for Capital, Ohio Northern, and John Carroll to make it back to their traditional strong teams...as long as they're not GREAT teams!  Boy is that hard to say.  Almost like y'all hoping HPU or HSU field good teams next year!

EDIT:  And no, I don't blame the rest of the OAC for Mount's loss in the Stagg.  The Raiders got flat out beat.

[Josh Bowerman]

I'm personally really hoping that HSU fields a stronger team next year, Jay!   

[jaypeter]

Yeah, you got me.   I thought about adding another 'edit' to my post.  Something like this..."Almost like all y'all UMHB fans hoping HPU or HSU field good teams next year!"

[Josh Bowerman]

Not all of us are UMHB fans, Jay.   

[imad3fanatic]

Not all of us are UMHB fans, Jay.   

I would say that this post wasn't needed. We all recognize that you are not a fan of the CRU.

[Ralph Turner]

Not all of us are UMHB fans, Jay.   

I would say that this post wasn't needed. We all recognize that you are not a fan of the CRU.

Now that Josh is up at AC, he can wear his HSU-alum hat, his AC hat or his SCAC-member hat!  (He did return to Texas!)

He has three reasons not to be a UMHB fan!   

[Josh Bowerman]

I'm not exactly sure who the CRU are, fanatic, or why I wouldn't be a fan.  Are they maybe a roving band of winemakers?     I'm certainly a fan of that! 

If you're refering to the UMHB athletic teams, the last time I checked their mascot was the Crusaders.   And then you'd be correct, I would not be a fan of that particular institution's athletic teams.

[Pat Coleman]

Considering their uniforms actually say Cru on them, I think it's safe to use that.

[fatboy]

3 stright years as outright ASC champs and more play-off wins then all the other ASC teams put together.  So yes I think it is safe to assume that the CRU's football program has shown they are the best, I know you are upset about it, because I felt the same 8 years ago about HSU.

[HSWho2007]

And the team nickname is the CRU it has been changed within the last year. Heres to a happy new year and getting back to work at another long run in the playoffs.