FB: American Southwest Conference

[baddog]

Bad news: Not a good week for me in the "Pick'ems"
Good news: HSU romps 
Keep up the intensity, Cowboys --  and take it to the next level.

[CUAfan]

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor, .320
2. Hardin-Simmons, .181
3. Sul Ross State, .011
4. East Texas Baptist, .011
5. Louisiana College, -.043
6. Mississippi College, -.060
7. Howard Payne, -.095
8. Texas Lutheran, -.142
9. McMurry, -.229

And the new rankings...and yes, this does include UMHB's game against SOU. The NCAA might not count it, but I'm not the NCAA.

1. Mary Hardin-Baylor, .254
2. Hardin-Simmons, .226
3. East Texas Baptist, .014
4. Louisiana College, .010
5. Sul Ross State, -.051
6. Mississippi College, -.056
7. Texas Lutheran, -.087
8. Howard Payne, -.130
9. McMurry, -.223

[Toby Taff]

AS depressing as it was to watch the game on Saturday, I'm glad the Cru had the day where everything goes wrong against SOU and not against a conference opponent.  looking at the stats sheet a few things jump off the page at me, the Cru only rushed the ball 7 more times than they passed it.  That was strange to watch.  In the passing game, Pi'Dadro Davis had 1 reception for 19 yds.  Not necessarily worth noting other than the fact that that's 1 valuable component off the MASH list.  Combined with Brian Scott's  2 recpts for 72 yds and Aertrail (sp.  but the stat sheet says only Aer.) Robinson's 6 for 88 the Cru show they have dependable receivers to utilize, if they can get RB's healthy.

I'm not sure I could ever get used to a UMHB drive chart that reads:
Punt...INT...TD...Punt...FUMBLE...TD...TD...Punt..Punt...INT...TD...FUMBLE...punt...punt...punt...INT

Nor do I like reading 2 scoring drives saying - O Yds fumble recovery

I read a few weeks ago that Daniels might possibly return as early as Nov 8th.  That's homecoming in Belton so I'll be there to see that game.  Hopefully things are more sorted out in the run game.

Hats off to SOU Saturday.  Their Defense played tough and made big plays and got the win.

Now UMHB has to shake it off and focus on finishing off the conference.

[crufootball]

This weekend was rather depressing for the Cru, but I am hoping it could do us a lot of good in terms of showing us what we need to work on.

It is my hope that the Raiders woke up a hurt sleeping giant and that the Cru will realize how short the rest of the season could be if they ever play that way again.

Also anybody know when the regional rankings come out?

[umhbalum]

We really need to get healthy. Go CRU!

[Pat Coleman]

Cru: Wednesday afternoon.

[umhb2001]

When taking a look at the previous years of UMHB football traveling somewhere, look at the numbers.

2004

@ Mt. Union     W 38-35

Nat. Championship  L 28-21

2006

@ Christopher Newport  L 15-10

@ Wesley L 34-20

2007

@ WW  L 41-14

@ WW  L 16-7

2008

@ Southern Oregon  L 40-28

Of the seven games we have had to travel to, we have won 1.  1-6 aint gonna cut it!  For some reason, we do not travel well.  Someone who has played on the team please let me know.  Obviously, I can't speak as a player, but it seems to me that one thing has to be wrong:

1. Poor senior leadership
2. Poor game planning and preparing by coaches
3. Wrong attitude by underclassmen who have not expierienced this type of play before. 

Please, don't misinterpret my tone here.  I love the Cru and know that our players give their all and that we have great coaches who give their all, but something is not working, and we need to figure out what it is and get it fixed.  I plan on traveling to the game this Saturday and hope to see a revived team looking to devour some Tigers! Lets go Cru!

[crufootball]

umhb 2001 you are right that the Cru needs to win on the road but the Cru have a few more games than 1 on the road. And frankly a lot of the time, you could argue that the better team won on most of those days.

In 2004, the Cru was nicknamed the Road Warriors as they beat Trinity, Hardin-Simmons, Washington & Jefferson, and Mount Union all on the road. And only lost to Linfield by a touchdown at a neutral site in the National Championship.

In 2005, the Cru beat Trinity in San Antonio and then lost to Wesley at home.

In 2006, the Cru did lose to Christopher Newport but could have won but Josh Welch fumbled on the 1 yard line with very little time with to go.

In 2007, the Cru did lose to UW-Whitewater two times in Wisconsin but they were the National Champion so I will cut them a break for that.

And now in 2008, the lose to SOU was terrible but when you are down to your 5th TB a win is hard to come by.

[Bill McCabe]

We really need to get healthy. Go CRU!

UMHB needs a healthy RB.  We have missed the break away speed that we've had in the past.  Quincy would have scored on some of the 10-12 yard runs.  Hopefully, Hurst will be back soon and can stay healthy.  If Daniels can come back, that is a plus, but I wouldn't expect him to be like he was prior to the injury.

Southern Oregon played well and penalties really hurt the Cru.  Maybe those are out of their system. 

[Josh Bowerman]

I actually think it was rather shrewd scheduling on the part of the UMHB coaching staff to put two NAIA teams on the slate in the year you're breaking in a bunch of new starters at key positions.  Throw in the rash of injuries your team has suffered, and it looks doubly-smart.  Kudos for being crazy like a fox to Coach Fredenburg.

The loss Saturday neither hurts nor helps you, just like your opening week win neither hurts nor helps--it's not a Division III contest.  You still have the inside track at the ASC's AQ slot, but with only 8 DIII games (and none out of conference), your guys are likely to get shipped to Jackson, MS to play Millsaps in the first round of the playoffs.

[Ralph Turner]

Travel being what it is in the ASC, respectfully speaking,

W&J in 2004 is travel.  Another 9-10 hour bus trip to the Jackson/Clinton area, or another trip to Abilene or to San Antonio/Seguin are not "travel".

[umhb2001]

umhb 2001 you are right that the Cru needs to win on the road but the Cru have a few more games than 1 on the road. And frankly a lot of the time, you could argue that the better team won on most of those days.

In 2004, the Cru was nicknamed the Road Warriors as they beat Trinity, Hardin-Simmons, Washington & Jefferson, and Mount Union all on the road. And only lost to Linfield by a touchdown at a neutral site in the National Championship.

In 2005, the Cru beat Trinity in San Antonio and then lost to Wesley at home.

In 2006, the Cru did lose to Christopher Newport but could have won but Josh Welch fumbled on the 1 yard line with very little time with to go.

In 2007, the Cru did lose to UW-Whitewater two times in Wisconsin but they were the National Champion so I will cut them a break for that.

And now in 2008, the lose to SOU was terrible but when you are down to your 5th TB a win is hard to come by.

Yeah, I saw some of those other matches, but I was looking at ones that where we had to fly.  Perhaps guys are excited about flying.  Perhaps they are suffering from jet lag, but for us to lose to a 2-5 team is rediculous.  And you are right, when you are down to your 5th string RB, you are hurting, but our o-line did not have a great day either.

[umhb2001]

I actually think it was rather shrewd scheduling on the part of the UMHB coaching staff to put two NAIA teams on the slate in the year you're breaking in a bunch of new starters at key positions.  Throw in the rash of injuries your team has suffered, and it looks doubly-smart.  Kudos for being crazy like a fox to Coach Fredenburg.

The loss Saturday neither hurts nor helps you, just like your opening week win neither hurts nor helps--it's not a Division III contest.  You still have the inside track at the ASC's AQ slot, but with only 8 DIII games (and none out of conference), your guys are likely to get shipped to Jackson, MS to play Millsaps in the first round of the playoffs.

If we have to go to Milsaps, then the NCAA needs a labotomy.  They have hurt us before when we rightfully deserved two home games and at least one not against a fellow ASC team. 

No one wanted to play us, that is why we scheduled two NAIA teams.  And to make it worse, Willamete and Linfield both beat Southern Oregon, Hardin Simmons beat Linfield, and so I just don't see us fairing well on the polls.  We'll have to see come Wednesday.

[Josh Bowerman]

If we have to go to Milsaps, then the NCAA needs a labotomy.  They have hurt us before when we rightfully deserved two home games and at least one not against a fellow ASC team. 

I'd get your bus ticket ready, if I were you. 

For starters, UMHB and Millsaps are the only two schools in the ASC/SCAC mix that can bus to one another without scheduling conference rematches in the first round (or more importantly, the dreaded flight the NCAA would have to pay for).

And, I'm not sure why you think the Crusaders deserve two home games this season.  If they win out, the Crusaders will only be 8-0 in DIII competition, vs. 9-0 for the Majors.  Millsaps has a much more impressive win over a common opponent, though, and UMHB hasn't played anyone outside of the ASC (that counts) to earn any extra brownie points.

I can see UMHB getting a 2 or 3 seed and possibly hosting a second round game against a Trinity/HSU winner (if they beat Millsaps in Jackson), but that's about it right now.  Millsaps, should they win out, will get the 1 or 2 seed (Muhlenberg is likely the only other team in the region that might edge them for that distinction).

[Pat Coleman]

Keith and I lay out an interesting alternative for UMHB in this week's podcast.