FB: American Southwest Conference

[Josh Bowerman]

There's an outstanding, and fairly lengthy, article in this month's issue of Texas Monthly about Sul Ross linebacker Mike Flynt. 

Check it out at www.texasmonthly.com .  You'll need to use the access code "Blue Bell" to pull up the story.

[HSWho2007]

UMHB needs to do a better job promoting their sports to the surrounding community. It is ridiculous that a nationally ranked team shouldn't fill a stadium in the heart of Texas. 
I just dont know what would be the best way for them to do so.

[Ralph Turner]

UMHB needs to do a better job promoting their sports to the surrounding community. It is ridiculous that a nationally ranked team shouldn't fill a stadium in the heart of Texas. 
I just don't know what would be the best way for them to do so.

Let's look at the competition to the sports dollar.  One hour north of Austin.  Forty-five minutes south of Baylor.  Ninety miles away to College Station.

UMHB is not the only game in town as it is in Clinton or Pineville or Abilene or Brownwood or even Marshall.  Most of the kids at UMHB probably go home to Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio or Houston for the weekend most weekends.

[HSWho2007]

Aren't there three colleges in Abilene that play football (HSU, ACU and McM), and there is plenty of football going on near Miss Coll (Jackson St., Millsaps, Belhaven). Ill give you that the others are pretty remote. But I know there is a population of more than 100,000 in Bell County alone. I just think there could be more support.

[Ralph Turner]

Aren't there three colleges in Abilene that play football (HSU, ACU and McM), and there is plenty of football going on near Miss Coll (Jackson St., Millsaps, Belhaven). Ill give you that the others are pretty remote. But I know there is a population of more than 100,000 in Bell County alone. I just think there could be more support.

Absolutely, but UMHB is not "the biggest game in town" as it is in those other locations.  The 100,000 people in Bell County are not likely to be natives that aspired to be UMHB Crusaders when they were growing up.  I think that you see that phenomenon more likely at HSU, ACU, Miss College and Jackson State games.  In fact, JSU is a whole 'nother league, the "big-time" SWAC.

[drinkxs.com]

I attended every home game this year in Belton, it appeared that the stadium was close to full on most game days. With seating for 8K, how did they come up with those numbers?

[Josh Bowerman]

The 100,000 people in Bell County are not likely to be natives that aspired to be UMHB Crusaders when they were growing up.

Come, now, Ralph.  Doesn't every Belton HS graduate that runs a 4.2 second 40 yard dash and bench presses 300 pounds grow up aspiring to be a Cru (still not sure what that is)?  I mean, that IS why Quincy Daniels is there, is it not?  At least that's what we've been led to believe by some of the faithful that frequent these here pages...   

[Josh Bowerman]

I attended every home game this year in Belton, it appeared that the stadium was close to full on most game days. With seating for 8K, how did they come up with those numbers?

My guess is that it's paid fans only--which doesn't include students at most DIII schools.  Also, with the exception of HSU (which UMHB didn't play at home this year), my guess is the visitors side is pretty empty most home games. 

And unless you're a parent or rabid fan of your team, what incentive is there really to drive a long way, pay to get in and roast your keister in the sweltering sun on the visitors side just to see your squad get pummeled by 50?

[Ralph Turner]

The 100,000 people in Bell County are not likely to be natives that aspired to be UMHB Crusaders when they were growing up.

Come, now, Ralph.  Doesn't every Belton HS graduate that runs a 4.2 second 40 yard dash and bench presses 300 pounds grow up aspiring to be a Cru (still not sure what that is)?  I mean, that IS why Quincy Daniels is there, is it not?  At least that's what we've been led to believe by some of the faithful that frequent these here pages...   

Good point...

That means he is one in 100,000.  To fill a football roster, you would need about 8 million residents in Bell County.

[drinkxs.com]

Josh, so if they base the numbers off of paid attendance, than UMHB has much larger numbers than 2400, lots of people there on free tickets.

[crufootball]

I am not sure if the students at UMHB are included in the number, but I do know that all students have to get a ticket to get in and that ticket is taken at the door just like every other fan.  The student ticket is free if you get it during the week of the game though.

To me the bottom line is that the city of Belton is far more interested in Belton High School than they are in UMHB. This might be UMHB's fault for not rallying locals more, I am not sure, but to me it seems like locals would rather go see Belton on Friday night and watch one of major colleges on Saturday than go see UMHB.

[Warren Thompson]

To me the bottom line is that the city of Belton is far more interested in Belton High School than they are in UMHB. This might be UMHB's fault for not rallying locals more, I am not sure, but to me it seems like locals would rather go see Belton on Friday night and watch one of major colleges on Saturday than go see UMHB.

That's likely the case. In Texas, there are two "big leagues" in football: high school (often with games Thursday-Saturday in the larger cities) and D1 college. For most folks, all else might as well be intramurals. No matter how good the  program, there's only so much a D3 venue can do.

[Toby Taff]

Part of it could still be recognition.  You would hope people would realize what's going on in Belton but I still have people say, "Oh you went to Baylor!" when I tell them my alma mater.  I bet if you asked most alumni from UMHB have heard that more than once.  Another part is the competition of the Big Schools.  I can't recall anyone in high school talking about going to a good small liberal arts school, most were planning on a big college.
I actually applied to 3 schools.  2 were small schools and the other was OU.  I was accepted to all of them, but chose OU because of name recognition and the perception of big school superiority.  Ultimately, I bailed on OU and went to UMHB instead, but it had nothing to do with UMHB.  It was all about location, and my older brother is an alumnus.

[Sender]

I have always thought that the D2 and D3 schools do not advertise enough.  They have a good product, but do not put it out there enough. 

It could be that they want there schools to stay a certain size, I do not know.

The public only goes by what they see on TV and hear on the radio.   

Then again finacially it may not be worth it.   

[golden_dome]

Here is a link to the Mississippi College 2008 football schedule http://www.gochoctaws.com/schedules.asp?path=football. The Choctaws will open the season with road games at Millsaps and NAIA Cumberlands (Kentucky). Cumberlands went 8-3 and went to the NAIA playoffs last year. There was work done to get a quality regional opponent similiar to HSU and UMHB, but it just didn't work out.

This is a slow time for football info, but MC did pick up several impressive transfers over the holidays. One of them is a player Texas people might recognize. Desmond Mayes, a running back from Normangee who twice was the Texas Class A Player of the year in 2004 and 2005 and rushed for nearly 6,000 yards in high school.

The Choctaws should receive some preseason recognition heading into next year with eight starters returning on offense and nine on defense. The WR's graduated, but Adam Shaffer will be back as a junior along with all of the offensive line and backfield.

I would expect HSU to be back to HSU form again next year, and UMHB is Top 5 every year now. ETBU and LC both appear to be on the rise as well. Could be a very strong year for the ASC next season.