FB: American Southwest Conference

[wesleydad]

hey cru football, good luck this week.  you are by far the best team i have seen this year.  keep winning, i dont want to see another mu vs uww game.

[crufootball]

hey wesleydad, we will try to make it a different shade of purple this year  but first we have to get by the black and red. tell your son thank you for everything he has done for this country.

Looks like I would rather be at the W&J-UMHB no matter what the outcome. I was bored so I looked up the weather reports for the four locations

UWW - High of 29 and a low of 9 with snow   
MUC - High of 29 and a low of 21 with snow   
FC - High of 34 with a low of 19 with snow   

UMHB - High of 63 and a low of 36, sunny   

[Bill McCabe]

Yessir,

I do not know if the speed factor was that big of a difference in 2004. If I recall, there were WRs for W&J running wide open. The difference may have just been in special teams. I am pretty sure W&J had a good bit of speed at the WR position that year along with in their secondary. Let's do not forget PJ was drafted to play baseball so he was a pretty special player. I would say that speed was more of a difference in 2006.

I would venture to say this years game will be rather interesting. W&J's defense has been much better against the run as of late. Also, W&J's passing game is very efficient and as long as the run game can keep them from throwing the ball downfield too many times than this game should be close. I would say turnovers make the difference in this game and if UMHB can hold onto the ball then it could be a long day for the Presidents.

How do the UMHB RB's compare to those of 2004 and 2006, Rollins was a pretty special athlete?

If there were receivers running wide open it didn't seem to make much difference.   

[Olinemom]

GO UMHB!!  WIN THIS GAME!!  HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE AT SALEM[/color]]

Olinemom

[CRU96]

Olineman,

I like the way you think so I think I will join you!

GO CRU GO!  GO CRU GO!  Go CRU GO!

Focus and win the game tomorrow.

[CRU96]

Any predictions in other games besides UMHB vs. W & J?


My predictions are:

Mt. Union over Franklin (35-10)
Wheaton over Cortland State (28-21)
UWW over Wartburg (24-21)

I do belive that the UWW/Wartburg game could go either way.  Wartburg seems to be able to move the ball efficiently while stopping their opponents with a good defense.

Wheaton/Cortland State should be an offensive game.  I like Wheaton's fight.  It should be a good offensive game.

In my opinion for Franklin to have a chance they have to stop Nate Kmic.  Kmic has great vision and runs behind a great offensive line. Mt. Unnion plays smothering defense. Mt. Union will be too much for Franklin to handle. 

Just my thoughts, may all fans traveling to games be safe and enjoy.

I agree with Crufootball. You cannot beat 65 degrees and sunny.  Go Cru!

[@d3jason]

Cortland plays Mount Union and Franklin plays Wheaton.

I think you have to take UWW and Mount.

Franklin vs Wheaton is a tough one but I going with Rupp from Franklin. This will probably be the best game of the four.

I am conflicted about the W&J and UMHB game. (Not about the score, I think that the Cru will win and may be playing their weakest playoff opponent of the tournament , no offense to W&J, I just think that UMHB is getting better each week.)

Who to root for? Normally, it's the team that knocked out the team I root for, which means that I should root for UMHB.

But I am also originally from Pennsylvania and Ralph mentioned the Texas/Pennsylvania rivalry. Plus the Presidents are the underdog and Ralph might be too much to take with Texas bragging rights over the east for another year. 

[CRU96]

Conrad,

Thanks for the clarification, I have been busy helping get my kids ready for school while my wife is away, and I lost my pairings in my predictions.  I agree, I too root for the team that wins against UMHB.  I have always respected UWW and even pulled for them to win last year after beating the Cru in Whitewater. 

I agree that Franklin has the better qb and wow what numbers both qb's (Wheaton/Franklin put up!)  I agree it will be the best game. 

From your point of view concerning UMHB v. W&J  is it the team speed issue for W&J or is it UMHB's defense that give them the most problems? 

It seems that every week we move from rivalry game (ASC rival HSU, Wesley rival, now W&J Pennsylvania rival)  It seems to be the playoffs/rivalry game each week. 

Man, I love DIII, where we settle our Championship on the field. 

[Bob.Gregg]

Hey, Olinemom, it's been even longer since W&J was in Salem...

In fact, the Presidents deserve a return visit.

The last time we were there, the people in charge of the weather really screwed up.  In '92, we left a blizzard in WashPA and flew to Orlando for the Stagg Bowl.

Then, somebody decided that Salem, VA was a better venue (more support) for the D-III national championship.  So, when the Presidents arrived for the festivities, somebody had ordered wind, cold and freezing rain for the entire weekend.  It really stunk.

So there's lots of people in these parts that haven't been back since.  And, it might be added, won't be coming back until the Red & Black EARN their way back!!!

[Ralph Turner]

Cortland plays Mount Union and Franklin plays Wheaton.

I think you have to take UWW and Mount.

Franklin vs Wheaton is a tough one but I going with Rupp from Franklin. This will probably be the best game of the four.

I am conflicted about the W&J and UMHB game. (Not about the score, I think that the Cru will win and may be playing their weakest playoff opponent of the tournament , no offense to W&J, I just think that UMHB is getting better each week.)

Who to root for? Normally, it's the team that knocked out the team I root for, which means that I should root for UMHB.

But I am also originally from Pennsylvania and Ralph mentioned the Texas/Pennsylvania rivalry. Plus the Presidents are the underdog and Ralph might be too much to take with Texas bragging rights over the east for another year. 

That is what good rivalries are all about!!!  No offense taken...all in good fun!

I have been very quiet about this one, because I want it that badly!

The ASC is defending its honor!   

[Toby Taff]

I just read the daily dose and here is my favorite quote:

Three of the dominant programs of the last half-decade are at home tomorrow. Mount Union, UW-Whitewater and Mary Hardin-Baylor have accounted for seven of the past eight Stagg Bowl appearances. And although the Cru, whose 2007 group was one of the best non-Stagg teams of the automatic bid era, lacks the jewelry the other two can show off, they have something no one I can think of does: A winning record (1-0) in Alliance.

Thanks K-Mack.

[CRU96]

Cortland plays Mount Union and Franklin plays Wheaton.

I think you have to take UWW and Mount.

Franklin vs Wheaton is a tough one but I going with Rupp from Franklin. This will probably be the best game of the four.

I am conflicted about the W&J and UMHB game. (Not about the score, I think that the Cru will win and may be playing their weakest playoff opponent of the tournament , no offense to W&J, I just think that UMHB is getting better each week.)

Who to root for? Normally, it's the team that knocked out the team I root for, which means that I should root for UMHB.

But I am also originally from Pennsylvania and Ralph mentioned the Texas/Pennsylvania rivalry. Plus the Presidents are the underdog and Ralph might be too much to take with Texas bragging rights over the east for another year. 

That is what good rivalries are all about!!!  No offense taken...all in good fun!

I have been very quiet about this one, because I want it that badly!

The ASC is defending its honor!   

Me too Ralph, I would love for UMHB to represent the ASC again at the Stagg.

The Cru must continue the run with a big win tomorrow.  No small task because the President's will be hungry, and we must be ready.  The Cru must take advantage of home field.

Wish we played today!

[CRU96]

I just read the daily dose and here is my favorite quote:

Three of the dominant programs of the last half-decade are at home tomorrow. Mount Union, UW-Whitewater and Mary Hardin-Baylor have accounted for seven of the past eight Stagg Bowl appearances. And although the Cru, whose 2007 group was one of the best non-Stagg teams of the automatic bid era, lacks the jewelry the other two can show off, they have something no one I can think of does: A winning record (1-0) in Alliance.

Thanks K-Mack.

Hey Toby, wow what a quote. I want to personally thank Coach Fred for his leadership.  All of this has been accomplished on his watch. 

I hope we never take it for granted, it is so hard to be play/coach at that level for that long and all UMHB fans should remember and be humble.   The Cru have played some great teams in the past, and to have that kind of record against the Mount is unbelievable.  We must count our blessings!

Stay focused Cru hungry and focused. 

[@d3jason]

I just read the daily dose and here is my favorite quote:

Three of the dominant programs of the last half-decade are at home tomorrow. Mount Union, UW-Whitewater and Mary Hardin-Baylor have accounted for seven of the past eight Stagg Bowl appearances. And although the Cru, whose 2007 group was one of the best non-Stagg teams of the automatic bid era, lacks the jewelry the other two can show off, they have something no one I can think of does: A winning record (1-0) in Alliance.

Thanks K-Mack.

Not too many people took a winning record into Belton prior to this past weekend, didn't work out to good for the Wolverines. Hope the Cru has the same luck next time in Alliance, though it would have to happen in Salem this year.

I actually thought the 2005 Cru team overall was better on offense, while it's hard to beat a defense with speed and talent of 2007 with both Henri and Jarrell on the same LB corps. This year's addition may top them all.

[Olinemom]

Hey, Olinemom, it's been even longer since W&J was in Salem...

In fact, the Presidents deserve a return visit.

The last time we were there, the people in charge of the weather really screwed up.  In '92, we left a blizzard in WashPA and flew to Orlando for the Stagg Bowl.

Then, somebody decided that Salem, VA was a better venue (more support) for the D-III national championship.  So, when the Presidents arrived for the festivities, somebody had ordered wind, cold and freezing rain for the entire weekend.  It really stunk.

So there's lots of people in these parts that haven't been back since.  And, it might be added, won't be coming back until the Red & Black EARN their way back!!!

There being no dIII teams in the state of Florida, I think the venue has been rightly given to Salem.  The people do a great job there.  and Stone Station has done a good job of tailgating with both sets of supporters ever since we were there for the 2001 game.  The ODAC hosts the game so we feel we should give the tailgate.  It's a lot of fun!!  You should try it out!