FB: American Southwest Conference

[UMHB03]

One of the wildest finishes I've seen in D3 football this year...
https://truetothecru.com/2022/11/05/avilas-game-winner-lifts-no-3-umhb-to-drama-filled-27-24-win-at-howard-payne/

Corey Hogue of DCTF reported that several UMHB players were ill and that Avila didn't make the trip with the team and barely got there by game time. 

Very interesting. It says King was one of the guys playing while ill, which might partly explain why the offense was so inconsistent. Considering that the Crusaders beat a pretty good team on the road while overcoming one of the worst officiating performances I've ever seen, AND battling illness at the same time makes me feel a bit better about the result. Still a lot of work to do before the playoffs though.

[Toby Taff]

One of the wildest finishes I've seen in D3 football this year...
https://truetothecru.com/2022/11/05/avilas-game-winner-lifts-no-3-umhb-to-drama-filled-27-24-win-at-howard-payne/

Corey Hogue of DCTF reported that several UMHB players were ill and that Avila didn't make the trip with the team and barely got there by game time.

Avila said post game he has the Flu.

[crufootball]

Lots of thoughts on the HPU UMHB game but I don't want to get into it because I am just now calm, frankly felt just like the 2019 game against HSU where I was just as excited at the end of the game but frustrated about the entirety of the rest of the game.

One thing that I am going to say here which will do no good but please can all D3fb camera crews ZOOM OUT. Having a zoomed in look is great on replay but when it is a single camera 100% of the time I would like to see most of the field, not just the oline and QB. While we are at it, you might want to turn off the microphone because fans of all teams say dumb things about refs, their coach, the other teams coach, the star QBs mom, whoever, I love how crowd noise but it needs to be more of a general feel and not mainly the thoughts of a select few fans close to the mic.

[Cowboy2]

Lots of thoughts on the HPU UMHB game but I don't want to get into it because I am just now calm, frankly felt just like the 2019 game against HSU where I was just as excited at the end of the game but frustrated about the entirety of the rest of the game.

One thing that I am going to say here which will do no good but please can all D3fb camera crews ZOOM OUT. Having a zoomed in look is great on replay but when it is a single camera 100% of the time I would like to see most of the field, not just the oline and QB. While we are at it, you might want to turn off the microphone because fans of all teams say dumb things about refs, their coach, the other teams coach, the star QBs mom, whoever, I love how crowd noise but it needs to be more of a general feel and not mainly the thoughts of a select few fans close to the mic.

100% agree. Watching at as fan, but felt if I didn't go with the flow of the background noise I would catch a tomato in my face from my kitchen. Fun game to watch but a bit too much background noise as an unbiased fan

[justafan12]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

[Etchglow]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

They were playing up until the snap pretty loudly.  Technically a penalty but one that they hadn't been enforcing all game and hadn't warned either team of that I saw.   There were multiple possessions where UMHB was on offense and HPU's band didn't even stop while the ball was in play.  I'll admit, I'm as big of a UMHB homer as there is, but it was one of a long string of questionable calls in my opinion.  There was a missed punch thrown by a defensive lineman of Howard Payne on one of the first plays of the game as well.  I think the "touchdown" that was called a few plays later was worse...



Was called a touchdown by Howard Payne by the referee behind the play.  Here is the video:

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1588995988643270656?s=20&t=0tb6MMx8KrMSzYPicCmiCw

[crufootball]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

They were playing up until the snap pretty loudly.  Technically a penalty but one that they hadn't been enforcing all game and hadn't warned either team of that I saw.   There were multiple possessions where UMHB was on offense and HPU's band didn't even stop while the ball was in play.  I'll admit, I'm as big of a UMHB homer as there is, but it was one of a long string of questionable calls in my opinion.  There was a missed punch thrown by a defensive lineman of Howard Payne on one of the first plays of the game as well.  I think the "touchdown" that was called a few plays later was worse...



Was called a touchdown by Howard Payne by the referee behind the play.  Here is the video:

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1588995988643270656?s=20&t=0tb6MMx8KrMSzYPicCmiCw

Yes I hope that we somehow find out that our band was warned before but other than that I don't know how you punish a visiting D3 spirit band with less than a minute left in the game.

[Etchglow]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

They were playing up until the snap pretty loudly.  Technically a penalty but one that they hadn't been enforcing all game and hadn't warned either team of that I saw.   There were multiple possessions where UMHB was on offense and HPU's band didn't even stop while the ball was in play.  I'll admit, I'm as big of a UMHB homer as there is, but it was one of a long string of questionable calls in my opinion.  There was a missed punch thrown by a defensive lineman of Howard Payne on one of the first plays of the game as well.  I think the "touchdown" that was called a few plays later was worse...



Was called a touchdown by Howard Payne by the referee behind the play.  Here is the video:

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1588995988643270656?s=20&t=0tb6MMx8KrMSzYPicCmiCw

Yes I hope that we somehow find out that our band was warned before but other than that I don't know how you punish a visiting D3 spirit band with less than a minute left in the game.

I sat by the band a good bit and never saw the referees come over to the sideline to speak about it...

[Cowboy2]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

I think the "touchdown" that was called a few plays later was worse...



Was called a touchdown by Howard Payne by the referee behind the play.  Here is the video:

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1588995988643270656?s=20&t=0tb6MMx8KrMSzYPicCmiCw

I was tuned into the broadcast and that was the same view I had. I will say it looked like the DB made a heck of a play. Not sure i would have thrown that pass across the field, but play selection was questionable in both of the HPU losses while they were up against the ASC juggernauts. However, the thing we cannot determine is if there was any movement of the ball. The still photo you provided looks like he has it secured, but in rewatching the footage it looks like the WR or TE, whatever he was, "Mossed" him while the ball was live. Berry had a similar INT against Trinity this year and it went the other way.

I've seen the comments where people are frustrated with not having instant replay, but come on, we're all fortunate enough to have even seen HPU have coverage for this game, let alone multiple angles and being able to rewind it. In my opinion, If there is no movement, then it should have been an interception because the DB would have come down in the end zone. It would be like a running back breaking the plain and then a guy stripping him 2-3 yards into the end zone and a red calling it a fumble. However, if the ball bobbles and the WR retained some form of equal possession prior to that then it was called correctly. That we will never know. Either way it was a great job of the kid selling it and giving his team a shot at the next play (2pt conversion) to keep playing the game. Both of the refs were closer than any spectator and the officials had two sets of eyes on it. If all proves right, the ball never lies and UMHB won the game regardless.

[zipmac22]

Is or has Coach Harmon already file an appeal or protest to the NCAA (D3) in regards to the interception in the endzone and having the Field Judge call a touchdown after the whistle was blown? The box score only list the Referee but not any of the other officals. Also, is there any official word yet on the reason for the UMHB band getting a penalty?

[Pat Coleman]

Is or has Coach Harmon already file an appeal or protest to the NCAA (D3) in regards to the interception in the endzone and having the Field Judge call a touchdown after the whistle was blown?

That's not how this works.

1. Once the officials leave the field of play, the contest is over and the result is final.
2. There's not even a mechanism for appeal.
3. The NCAA doesn't have any jurisdiction over a regular season contest. The conference owns regular season contests.

[CruFrenzy]

I'm getting a "sound the alarms" vibe a little bit from my fellow Cru fans..

Let us remember we didn't look overly dominant last year all the way up until round 3 of the playoffs vs Linfield & our guys starting to gel and flipped the switch. We have the entire O-Line back, QB, both RBs and all but one receiver.. I will agree we have looked a little flat this year (maybe an extended championship hangover) but our program has a history of turning it on late in the year and being the best version of themselves.. I'm optimistic.

With that being said we may have a little less wiggle room than normal because we don't have the best defense in the nation like we've had in years past.. definitely need the offense to start clicking because when we get to the big games it will be the offense that needs to go win games for us this year it seems. Gonna be a fun post season.

[Etchglow]

Any comments on the penalty drawn by the UMHB band?  All I heard was it was bizarre.

I think the "touchdown" that was called a few plays later was worse...



Was called a touchdown by Howard Payne by the referee behind the play.  Here is the video:

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1588995988643270656?s=20&t=0tb6MMx8KrMSzYPicCmiCw

I was tuned into the broadcast and that was the same view I had. I will say it looked like the DB made a heck of a play. Not sure i would have thrown that pass across the field, but play selection was questionable in both of the HPU losses while they were up against the ASC juggernauts. However, the thing we cannot determine is if there was any movement of the ball. The still photo you provided looks like he has it secured, but in rewatching the footage it looks like the WR or TE, whatever he was, "Mossed" him while the ball was live. Berry had a similar INT against Trinity this year and it went the other way.

I've seen the comments where people are frustrated with not having instant replay, but come on, we're all fortunate enough to have even seen HPU have coverage for this game, let alone multiple angles and being able to rewind it. In my opinion, If there is no movement, then it should have been an interception because the DB would have come down in the end zone. It would be like a running back breaking the plain and then a guy stripping him 2-3 yards into the end zone and a red calling it a fumble. However, if the ball bobbles and the WR retained some form of equal possession prior to that then it was called correctly. That we will never know. Either way it was a great job of the kid selling it and giving his team a shot at the next play (2pt conversion) to keep playing the game. Both of the refs were closer than any spectator and the officials had two sets of eyes on it. If all proves right, the ball never lies and UMHB won the game regardless.

I mean, yeah, it could've moved. But the referee that made the call was in the back corner of the endzone behind the receiver and couldn't have seen it. To me it looks a lot like the he let go when the play was blown dead and then they decided to call the touchdown.

[Cowboy2]

Is or has Coach Harmon already file an appeal or protest to the NCAA (D3) in regards to the interception in the endzone and having the Field Judge call a touchdown after the whistle was blown?

That's not how this works.

1. Once the officials leave the field of play, the contest is over and the result is final.
2. There's not even a mechanism for appeal.
3. The NCAA doesn't have any jurisdiction over a regular season contest. The conference owns regular season contests.

I want to say last week or the week prior you and Greg did a great piece on a very similar play elsewhere. Forget the matchup. However,  this wasn't at the end of regulation.

I know it stinks, but you have to go with what is called. Cru fans can be upset, but look at the bright spot. King got to work a great 2 min drill (or less) and the kicker got to try another game winning FG attempt. Those will go a long way towards confidence in the ensuing weeks.

[UMHB03]

Is or has Coach Harmon already file an appeal or protest to the NCAA (D3) in regards to the interception in the endzone and having the Field Judge call a touchdown after the whistle was blown?

That's not how this works.

1. Once the officials leave the field of play, the contest is over and the result is final.
2. There's not even a mechanism for appeal.
3. The NCAA doesn't have any jurisdiction over a regular season contest. The conference owns regular season contests.

I want to say last week or the week prior you and Greg did a great piece on a very similar play elsewhere. Forget the matchup. However,  this wasn't at the end of regulation.

I know it stinks, but you have to go with what is called. Cru fans can be upset, but look at the bright spot. King got to work a great 2 min drill (or less) and the kicker got to try another game winning FG attempt. Those will go a long way towards confidence in the ensuing weeks.

Yes, the result ended up going the right way in the end (barely), but it could have easily gone the other way and potentially cost UMHB the playoff berth and outright conference title that they earned. There has to be a way to hold referees who are this egregiously bad accountable. I understand that it's a difficult job and it's possible to miss close calls, but several of the calls in this game, all of which went against the Crusaders, could have been clearly seen by my half-blind, 86-year old grandmother.

The "roughing the kicker" call on a play where the ball was tipped, giving HPU a 1st down which they converted into 7 points.
A Howard Payne receiver catching the ball, taking 2-3 steps, getting stripped with a UMHB recovery, and the official inexplicably ruling it an incomplete pass.
The asinine penalty, without issuing a warning first, against the UMHB band while allowing the HPU band to play during the action throughout game.
And obviously the infamous TD call on a clear INT, which by itself should be a fireable offense.

Occasional officiating mistakes are part of the game. Repeated, egregiously bad calls against ONE team are an indication of either bias or rank incompetence, either of which should disqualify them from the job.

Anyway, rant over. On to McMurry