FB: American Southwest Conference

[crufootball]

Keith and I spent a fair amount of time on the podcast today feeling your pain:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/13/atn-podcast-184-a-step-forward/

As much as it stinks I have grown to accept the Texas/West Coast/Island bracket but I just don't get why the prize for winning that bracket is either UMHB gets to host St. Thomas (I assume they host) or Chapman/Linfield/HSU gets to travel to St. Thomas.

I can only hope that one day UMHB or any other "South" team is cursed with the bracket that Mount Union seems to always get which includes some solid teams but teams they and all top 5 teams should beat.

Oh well happy we do get a new opponent in Chapman and I hope that I can leave the game on Saturday happy with a victory while running to see the end of Linfield/HSU game.

[Kelly Boggs]

From my understanding, as long as UMHB wins, The CRU will host through the semi-finals. One game at a time. UMHB must reset and reignite the intensity the defense played with 80% of the season. The offense has improved since the beginning of the season and is doing enough to get the job done. It is a tough road, but the name of the game is now "win/survive and advance." There are no style points, just score more points than your opponent, however you can manufacture them, and win!

[umhb2001]

From my understanding, as long as UMHB wins, The CRU will host through the semi-finals. One game at a time. UMHB must reset and reignite the intensity the defense played with 80% of the season. The offense has improved since the beginning of the season and is doing enough to get the job done. It is a tough road, but the name of the game is now win/survive and advance. There are no style points, just score more points than your opponent, however you can manufacture them, and win!

https://youtu.be/LZUf5nhC0II Chapman vs Cal Lutheran from 10/31

[umhb2001]

Watching the Chapman vs Cal Lutheran game from earlier this season.

Chapman definitely has some skilled players. The QB looks solid; under pressure, he will be prone to Int's, throwing two in this game. They have a couple of tall receivers, one a TE, and they attacked the middle of the field well. Their running game doesn't seem to be overpowering. If we can play our game, our defense could make them one dimensional.

Defensively, Chapman has given up some big plays down field, so with our WR speed and TJ as well, I think we should have some success. As I type this, it happens for the third time.

I believe we should be able to win this by 3-4 touchdowns.

[bluenote]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

[Mr. Ypsi]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

[bluenote]

Wesley is damn good.... they should have traveled the year we played the... but Rowan and Widener are good too!

[wally_wabash]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain. 

[MonroviaCat]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain.

Which game are you talking about Wally?

edit:  nevermind--I think you meant 4N hosting 5W (NCC vs St Johns)

[Ralph Turner]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

Wesley has had a winning record versus the ASC in the NCAA playoffs, when they were a South Region Team.

[wally_wabash]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain.

Which game are you talking about Wally?

edit:  nevermind--I think you meant 4N hosting 5W (NCC vs St Johns)

Yes, my bad!  4N vs. 5W is what I meant.  Good catch. 

[crufootball]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain.

Which game are you talking about Wally?

edit:  nevermind--I think you meant 4N hosting 5W (NCC vs St Johns)

Yes, my bad!  4N vs. 5W is what I meant.  Good catch. 

4N vs 5W may not sound bad if we truly all thought they were the 4th and 5th best team in their region but we don't.

I realize you open pandora's box if you were to let the committee rank the teams not using objective criteria but in this case do we truly think Trine is better than North Central. I love the D3 model that most teams have a guaranteed way of getting into the playoffs but it seems the criteria to rank the teams is trying to fit everything in one box that simply can't handle it. 

This wouldn't solve things like Linfield vs HSU but maybe it would solve some other grips...and cause new ones I know. 

[jamtod]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain.

Which game are you talking about Wally?

edit:  nevermind--I think you meant 4N hosting 5W (NCC vs St Johns)

Yes, my bad!  4N vs. 5W is what I meant.  Good catch. 

4N vs 5W may not sound bad if we truly all thought they were the 4th and 5th best team in their region but we don't.

I realize you open pandora's box if you were to let the committee rank the teams not using objective criteria but in this case do we truly think Trine is better than North Central. I love the D3 model that most teams have a guaranteed way of getting into the playoffs but it seems the criteria to rank the teams is trying to fit everything in one box that simply can't handle it. 

This wouldn't solve things like Linfield vs HSU but maybe it would solve some other grips...and cause new ones I know.

Even if they are legitimately the 4th and 5th best team in their regions, it ignores the fact that not all regions are equal every year. Ranking 10 teams from each region is not the same as ranking the 40 best teams on an annual basis. The 10 team in one region may very well be #3 or 4 in a different region.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Man.... why do 2 great teams get paired up in the first round? Either us Cat or you Cowboys could clean up on the Delaware Valley Bracket.... Give me a break!   

Move your schools east of the Mississippi and you'll get better draws!  The inevitable hazards of being on an 'island' with an underfunded D3.   #6 SJU @ #9 NCC has more cause for complaint, since there WERE other options without flights.

But your total contempt for east coast teams is getting really old.  I happen to agree that the east is USUALLY far weaker than the other three regions, but this year DelVal, Brockport, and Wesley (and perhaps Frostburg - haven't seen them play) could give HSU or Linfield a helluva game.  Either of you MIGHT win that quandrant, but a 'clean up' mind-set would guarantee defeat.

4N hosting 5S in a first round game is hardly a reason to complain.

Which game are you talking about Wally?

edit:  nevermind--I think you meant 4N hosting 5W (NCC vs St Johns)

Yes, my bad!  4N vs. 5W is what I meant.  Good catch. 

4N vs 5W may not sound bad if we truly all thought they were the 4th and 5th best team in their region but we don't.

I realize you open pandora's box if you were to let the committee rank the teams not using objective criteria but in this case do we truly think Trine is better than North Central. I love the D3 model that most teams have a guaranteed way of getting into the playoffs but it seems the criteria to rank the teams is trying to fit everything in one box that simply can't handle it. 

This wouldn't solve things like Linfield vs HSU but maybe it would solve some other grips...and cause new ones I know.

This.  4N hosting 5W is obviously not a problem by the criteria.  By D3Football.com's Top 25 (which I see as a MUCH better reflection of actual team quality), matching #6 @ #9 in the very first round (when there are reasonable alternatives that do NOT require flights) IS IMO a problem.  Alas, as both crufootball and jamtoTommie note, I, too, like the basic idea of D3, and changes MAY be worse than the current problems.  I have no solution.

Well ... perhaps the NCAA could delegate the selection and bracket formation to Pat and wally (and I'll volunteer as an aide ).

Perhaps we could even find a sugar daddy to spring for more flights!

[umhb2001]

Alright, Cru, so you have Linfield, HSU, and St. Thomas in your bracket. Get. It. Done. Just come out and play like you can. None of this other stuff matters anymore. It is what it is. Go win.