FB: American Southwest Conference

[crufootball]

Got to get the costly penalties and stupid personal fouls/UNS taken care of.  Those killed so many drives and kept so many opponents drives going.

Penalties were an issue but I have some serious questions about that ref crew. I am not saying they cost us the game, they absolutely didn't, but the amount of penalties called on both teams was not believable. All together, 31 flags were thrown for over 300 yards of penalties. Coming into the game Mars Hill average 6.6 penalties for 43 yards and we 7.5 for 70 yards, the odds that both of us completely forgot how to play within the rules to that degree is again unbelievable to me.

[Reverendbiker]

The penalties and overall lack of discipline on this team (and all of Harmon's teams) are absolutely unacceptable.

If you are using penalties as an indicator of lack of discipline on "all of Harmon's teams," you might want to pick a new metric. In his 24 seasons at the helm, Pete Fredenberg's teams averaged 67.0 yds/game in penalties. In Harmon's three complete seasons, his teams have averaged 57.7.

[CruFrenzy]

The penalties and overall lack of discipline on this team (and all of Harmon's teams) are absolutely unacceptable.

If you are using penalties as an indicator of lack of discipline on "all of Harmon's teams," you might want to pick a new metric. In his 24 seasons at the helm, Pete Fredenberg's teams averaged 67.0 yds/game in penalties. In Harmon's three complete seasons, his teams have averaged 57.7.

Good stat! That honestly surprises me a little but I think it's the unsportsmanlike penalties that we've seen an uptick in that are a little concerning. Those have definitely gone up, someone posted the actual numbers as of las season it was like a 150% increase.

[Reverendbiker]

I have some serious questions about that ref crew. I am not saying they cost us the game, they absolutely didn't, but the amount of penalties called on both teams was not believable. All together, 31 flags were thrown for over 300 yards of penalties. Coming into the game Mars Hill average 6.6 penalties for 43 yards and we 7.5 for 70 yards, the odds that both of us completely forgot how to play within the rules to that degree is again unbelievable to me.
[/quote]

Agree 100%. I was sitting right on the 50 and that was the strangest officiating I've ever witnessed. I don't recall seeing a single penalty call that was a bad one. There were just so darned MANY of them. Why does BJ Stewart ruin a great return by tossing the ball away? The horsecollar call was obvious, as were the couple of lineman downfield. On virtually every return I saw illegal blocks and holding that weren't called. I honestly can't say that the zebras favored either team, but seeing yellow flags on the ground after every big play sure took some of the fun out of watching the game.

[Ron Boerger]

Logan Hansen is not high on the ASC's chances of getting a Pool C bid, which surprised even him and he dug in further in a Xitter thread:

If UMHB runs the table & HSU only loses to UMHB:
UMHB = AQ | HSU = 21% At-Large

If HSU runs the table & UMHB only loses to HSU:
HSU = AQ | UMHB = 0% At-Large

If they split & win all other games (tiebreak = MOV):
UMHB = 50% AQ/32% At-Large | HSU = 50% AQ/100% At-Large

If either teams loses a game to either ETBU or HPU, both at-large resumes get worse.

UMHB is eliminated from the at-large race w/ 2 conference losses of any fashion.

If HSU splits w/ UMHB but loses to ETBU or HPU, their at-large odds go from 100% to 31%.

TL;DR

They only way either UMHB or HSU is likely to get an at-large bid is if they split their season series and UMHB wins the tiebreaker. If HSU wins the tiebreaker, UMHB is likely out.
If UMHB sweeps HSU, HSU is likely out.
If HSU sweeps UMHB, UMHB is definitely out.

Obviously there are a lot of things that can change across the Division between now and the end of the season, but there is a certain amount of inflexibility introduced by the results to date, some of which don't count because they were against non-D3 competition.

[UMHB03]

The penalties and overall lack of discipline on this team (and all of Harmon's teams) are absolutely unacceptable.

If you are using penalties as an indicator of lack of discipline on "all of Harmon's teams," you might want to pick a new metric. In his 24 seasons at the helm, Pete Fredenberg's teams averaged 67.0 yds/game in penalties. In Harmon's three complete seasons, his teams have averaged 57.7.

Good stat! That honestly surprises me a little but I think it's the unsportsmanlike penalties that we've seen an uptick in that are a little concerning. Those have definitely gone up, someone posted the actual numbers as of las season it was like a 150% increase.

I think you nailed it. It's the inexcusable penalties that make the issue stand out. I can handle an occasional holding call when a guy is trying to protect the QB, or a late hit/roughing the passer when a guy is hustling to make a play and just can't pull up in time. Those kinds of penalties sometimes happen (though still shouldn't happen as often as they do) when guys are playing hard. It's the unsportsmanlike behavior that should get guys benched - cursing at the opponent, pushing and shoving after the play, taunting, etc. Totally selfish and unnecessary

And obviously, when more of your kick returns are called back on penalties than aren't, that can't be defended.

[CruFrenzy]

Little x thread preview for this week's ASC matchup with ETBU in Marshall. Feels like a must win!!

https://x.com/CouchCru17/status/1973084703017107966

[umhb2001]

The qb we had last season was better than this!

Why does it seem that the current coaching staff is either unable or unwilling to find the best players and put them on the field?

I can take a loss, but the way we are losing like we've never run an offensive play is maddening.

[zipmac22]

Looks like we're right back with the unsportsmanlike penalties. Coach Harmon should of benched JJ Davis right after the flag was thrown. It seems that the players feel comfortable with as many unsportsmanlike penalties that have been called on The Cru.

How much longer will the coaching staff allow the lack luster QB performance? The QB1 position needs to be opened up to ALL to see who can do a better job.

If The Cru ends up losing to East Texas Baptist the chances of seeing any post season appear to be pretty low.

[UMHB03]

Terrible performance by the Crusader defense in the first half. You could put a bunch of traffic cones out there to put up more resistance than our secondary. Absolutely embarrassing. And if #5 sees the field again after singlehandedly keeping an ETBU scoring drive alive with a bonehead dead ball penalty, then Harmon should be fired immediately after the game. Inexcusable lack of discipline, yet again.

Michaux still can't hit the broad side of a barn half the time. Most high school QB's would hit the wide open WR on that flea flicker 10 out of 10 times. I find it hard to believe that we don't have anyone better.

Brain dead play call on the final play of the half.

The running game has been the lone bright spot.

After 3.5 games, I think it's safe to say that this UMHB team is barely average, if that. In other words, another typical Larry Harmon team.

[bksatx5579]

First time seeing HSU this year.  Looking very good against Howard Payne.  There is 12 minutes left in 3rd.  HSU is up 38-7.

[bksatx5579]

8 minutes left in 3rd.  45-7 HSU.  HSU is moving ball at will.  During previous series, HSU defense stopped HPU on 4th down around mid-field. 

[bksatx5579]

HSU defense has given up around 154 yards of offense.  HPU is only averaging a little over 6 yards per reception and 4 yards rushing.  Good day for the defense.  48-7 with 3 minutes left in 3rd.

[bksatx5579]

14:51 left in 4th.  HSU 55-7

[bksatx5579]

HPU average run is going up.  HSU defense just gave up a 67 yard touchdown run.  55-14. 13 minutes left in 4th.