Almost assured of a second-place finish in the ASC this season and hopeful of another at-large postseason berth, the Crusaders have been getting a crash-course in history from UMHB coach Pete Freden-burg.
"I've told the guys a lot about '04, and I see some similarities between this team and that one," said Fredenburg, whose squad was stunned last week in a 17-14 upset win by Mississippi College. "I saw some similarities in the kind of practice we had (after the loss). It was awesome. It might have been the best practice we've had.
"But that doesn't mean we're for sure going to go to the Stagg Bowl. It does mean that this team will respond positively."
No. 13-ranked UMHB (5-1) gets its first chance to respond at 1 p.m. today for homecoming, when it hosts Southern Oregon (2-5) in a non-conference game at Tiger Field.
The Crusaders haven't lost back-to-back games in a season since 1999. To keep that streak alive they'll have to upend a Raiders team - an NAIA independent - that handed UMHB its only regular-season setback last year.
The Crusaders say they're chomping at the bit to get that chance.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
