FB: American Southwest Conference

[Ron Boerger]

they have started doing live stats ron.

+1 Toby, thanks.

[dsc]

Congrats to Feaster!

ASC Offensive Player of the Year!!!

Go<<<<<<<<<<HSU>>>>>>>>>>>>COWBOYS!!!!

...ALSO "congrats) to all the First, Second and Honorable Mention selections.  I saw the headlines (on Feaster) and since there had been discussions about quarterbacks, I mentioned his name.  But ALL those named deserve a "congratulations."  (ASC Web site.)

[CruAlum90]

Terrible, Awful, pathetic.......thats what I think of when I think of HSU defense.  The Crusaders will win this game, if i had to bet, by at least 2 or 3 td's.  I would venture to say HSU has the worst defense in the 32 team field, we should look up the stats.....which would make sense because they play so many girly men on that side of the ball.  For that matter, their whole team can be lumped into the that category.......every year.  On the other hand, the Crusaders remind me of Santana Moss, ya know, wide reciever for the Redskins......they are Cowboy Killers!!  The Cru didn't play very well the first game, i'd expect alot more out of them tomorrow in Belton, Pete'll have em ready to play, he always does!  ANyhow, one day HSU will jump up in beat us, cause thats how it works with so called rivalries, when a team has dominated another for so long they begin to let thier gaurd down, they don't take thier opponent as serious and wind up getting beat......yeah, that'll probably happen one day, in like 2030 or something, but it won't be happening this week, not in this playoff run.  Wait............wait.............do you guys hear that sound........its comign from the west....it sounds like plastic clapping together, dull thuds as well....wait, what is that??   Oh, I know.......its HSU stacking thier pads.......Jocks on the left, Thigh pads on the right, and you guys can have tomorrow off...........HAHAHAHA.......I know.......I know......you all hate me   Go CRU 

[CruAlum39]

Wow!  For just a second there after reading a few of the previous posts, it brought back some old memories of when this UMHB vs HSU rivalry used to be a little "nastier".  Almost shed a nostalgic tear there!  I am looking forward to a great game this weekend and although I have not been able to be too involved with either of these teams as much as I would have liked to this year, I would like to share my 2 cents.

UMHB-- After watching them play Howard Payne a few things were obvious to me.
                     
--Tucker is some kind of athlete and UMHB definitely does have some depth behind him
--Noack is very dangerous running the ball, especially out of the gun off of some zone read looks
--The defense, who some consider to be small, is still the same ol' D with some great team speed.  They are still very adept at stopping the run and able to hold off big pass plays from the other team.  
-- The defenses blitz packages work very well and if they can keep the QB contained while running them will prove to work very efficiently this weekend.


HSU--I have not seen or heard a lot of HSU at all this year so I really can't say much except for the fact it sounds like they can still move the football around through the air and Feaster can make some plays with his legs.
--If the defense plays like they have been against the run this year, I think it will be a long day for them.  The whole "bend but don't break" defense is just fine.  That's a lot like the CRU defense I played on in '04, but you have to be able to cause turnovers for that style of defense to work.  I know that HSU  can get there share of interceptions, but what about fumbles against a running team like UMHB?  Just something to think about.


--Playing the same team twice is always tough, so HSU gets the advantage in that aspect.

--Special teams will play a big role.  Tucker looked good returning punts.  That maybe an area where UMHB can capatalize on a lower net punt team like HSU.  (I know they are "QB quick kicks" that bring down the average, but every team punts at different points during the year to pin there opponent deep in their own territory)  

I look forward to a great game and  let the best team win!

[hsutd73]

The HPU game probably isnt the best game to guage whether or not a player is "dangerous" running the ball...Hardin Simmons ran for I believe 502 yards against them...UMHB was also able to blitz very liberally against an HPU team that was obviously undermanned...game plans change when you arent threatened by an opponent...and as for HSU playing girly men you are exactly right...every thursday the team gets their nails done together instead of practicing tackling drills....Are you kidding me? The defense injured 2 of your running backs in the first game? Please feel free to say something meaningful at some point Cru fans

[@d3jason]

I don't know when UMHB will be able to do something like this, but it would be nice.

Part of the problem is that, unless things have changed, the school district that owns the stadium doesn't know it's the 21st century and there is no broadband connectivity.  You might be able to try and send video via a cell connection but it would probably be pretty iffy.   

It's really surprising given UMHB's success that they don't do something.  You could do live stats over dialup or cellular WAN. 

This is why I invested in an air card for my laptop. If you have cell service, you are ready to go. It's expensive but worth it. It's been great for keeping up (listening and checking the scoreboard) when driving back from games.

Just wanted to wish both teams good luck and hopefully (if Wesley wins,) I'll get to meet some of you in Belton or Abliene next week.

[Weak Safety]

The whole "bend but don't break" defense is just fine.  That's a lot like the CRU defense I played on in '04, but you have to be able to cause turnovers for that style of defense to work.  I know that HSU  can get there share of interceptions, but what about fumbles against a running team like UMHB?  Just something to think about.

HSU is number 4 in the nation in turnover margin.  They have 18 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. 

[hsufollower]

ANyhow, one day HSU will jump up in beat us, cause thats how it works with so called rivalries, when a team has dominated another for so long they begin to let thier gaurd down, they don't take thier opponent as serious and wind up getting beat......

FORESHADOWING? I understand he wrote not this playoff run but perhaps if your superstitious, creating a jinx? Im excited to see how the game will pan out

[cowboyfan]

Is that fear i smell from the UMHB sidelines? One day away from game time and all the experts on UMHB are here. I particularly liked how you compared how UMHB would do saturday to how effective they were against HPU. Pretty even comparisson i'd say. I'd also like to point out that the first meeting could have easily gone HSU's way regardless of "how bad the Cru performed." They sustained two big injuries that game (guess that makes UMHB's offense the real sissy's) and still managed to win the conference. Hats OFF. But HSU is no HPU and this weekend will not be a cake walk for either. Each team has several legitamate threats on both sides of the ball.  I think this weekends game will have a different outcome.... SO here's to a good game this weekend, an HSU win, and a Home game next week for both teams (with the cru's game being either playstation, xbox or watching HSU). Good luck Cowboys.

[golden_dome]

Don't know if anyone noticed but here are the D3football.com's picks for the Millsaps bracket.

MILLSAPS (South) BRACKET
No. 8 LaGrange at No. 1 Millsaps
Keith: Millsaps, 49-17
Ryan: Millsaps, 45-10
Pat: Millsaps, 63-3

No. 6 Christopher Newport at No. 5 Washington & Jefferson
Keith: W&J, 28-21
Ryan: W&J, 34-31
Pat: W&J, 24-21

No. 7 Wesley at No. 4 Muhlenberg
Keith: Wesley, 21-20
Ryan: Wesley, 31-20
Pat: Wesley, 31-23

No. 3 Hardin-Simmons at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor
Keith: Hardin-Simmons, 20-18
Ryan: Hardin-Simmons, 27-24
Pat: Hardin-Simmons, 38-35

[CruAlum39]

Now wait a second...

No one is comparing HSU to HPU.  I am simply going from that because that is the only game I have seen this year.  I did say I have not seen much if at all of either team this year and the "UMHB expert" is coming out now because I have been busy coaching my own football team all season.  I would like to think all of those notes that were written don't have to be game specific.  I would like to think that you could see Bryson Tucker against any team and realize that he is an exceptional athlete.  And UMHB's defensive blitz packages have always been very effective in the past, no matter who they play.  The key is being able to contain an athletic QB such as Feaster.  Sometimes that happens, and sometimes it doesn't.  If it doesn't, Feaster will have a field day scrambling and hitting open receivers on comeback routes.  We used to have trouble with this when we would play Adam King at HPU... we would always get to him, but he would scramble and pick us apart with athletic receivers that could just get open.

As for HSU, that turnover stat is exceptional.  If they can get some fumble recoveries, it will be a long day for UMHB.  There is nothing worse than driving the length of the field only to cough up the ball late in the drive.

As everyone has already said, this will be won by the team that plays better defense and special teams.

[Llamaguy]

Now wait a second...

No one is comparing HSU to HPU.  I am simply going from that because that is the only game I have seen this year.  I did say I have not seen much if at all of either team this year and the "UMHB expert" is coming out now because I have been busy coaching my own football team all season.  I would like to think all of those notes that were written don't have to be game specific.  I would like to think that you could see Bryson Tucker against any team and realize that he is an exceptional athlete.  And UMHB's defensive blitz packages have always been very effective in the past, no matter who they play.  The key is being able to contain an athletic QB such as Feaster.  Sometimes that happens, and sometimes it doesn't.  If it doesn't, Feaster will have a field day scrambling and hitting open receivers on comeback routes.  We used to have trouble with this when we would play Adam King at HPU... we would always get to him, but he would scramble and pick us apart with athletic receivers that could just get open.

As for HSU, that turnover stat is exceptional.  If they can get some fumble recoveries, it will be a long day for UMHB.  There is nothing worse than driving the length of the field only to cough up the ball late in the drive.

As everyone has already said, this will be won by the team that plays better defense and special teams.

Long time no talk 39! I will have a cold one waiting for you at the Stagg Bowl. Your sidekick from last year will have his fiance' in tow so you may have to hangout with us old guys this year.  Feel free to bring the respective danceteams and cheerleaders with you! 

ps. UMHB 27   HSU 23   8)

[CRU96]

Don't know if anyone noticed but here are the D3football.com's picks for the Millsaps bracket.

MILLSAPS (South) BRACKET
No. 8 LaGrange at No. 1 Millsaps
Keith: Millsaps, 49-17
Ryan: Millsaps, 45-10
Pat: Millsaps, 63-3

No. 6 Christopher Newport at No. 5 Washington & Jefferson
Keith: W&J, 28-21
Ryan: W&J, 34-31
Pat: W&J, 24-21

No. 7 Wesley at No. 4 Muhlenberg
Keith: Wesley, 21-20
Ryan: Wesley, 31-20
Pat: Wesley, 31-23

No. 3 Hardin-Simmons at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor
Keith: Hardin-Simmons, 20-18
Ryan: Hardin-Simmons, 27-24
Pat: Hardin-Simmons, 38-35

Thanks for the work on this Chris I think it is good to see the picks from our South bracket. I have always respected Keith, Ryan, and Pat with their picks. The Hardin-Simmons score does not surprise me.  The Cowboys are an high-powered offense and worthy of the Cru's respect.  As a Cru fan I  have a prediction of my own which doesn't matter much to anyone except UMHB fans, but I pick UMHB in a close game, but the Cru's defense comes up big in the end at home.  UMHB 28 HSU 21.  

[Weak Safety]

As for HSU, that turnover stat is exceptional.  If they can get some fumble recoveries, it will be a long day for UMHB.  There is nothing worse than driving the length of the field only to cough up the ball late in the drive.

In an effort to be "fair and balanced"....HSU has only forced 15 punts this year while UMHB has forced 34.  That has a lot to do with HSU forcing 29 turnovers vs. UMHB forcing 18, but it also means the UMHB defense probably forces a lot of 3 and outs and short drives.  UMHB defense has played 629 total plays vs. 694 for HSU.

[CRU96]

As a UMHB fan I know how good the Cowboys are and respect your strengths.  The Cru nor its fans believe in any way that we will win by simply showing up.  We know better than to think that way.  We must play the best game of the year to win on Saturday, and so do the Cowboys. In games like these to win the game you must win in all three phases offense, defense, and special teams. This will be the focus for both teams heading into the game tomorrow.   This game has to be considered another "game for the ages in this great rivalry."