I wrote a few weeks ago about the youth of our fall sports teams and how it would take a while to develop some of that youth. I was right it would take some time, but it has happened a lot quicker than I anticipated.
Our teams are on a roll as we head toward the midway points of the season. The men’s soccer team has gone 5-1 since a 0-3 start, the women’s soccer team is 9-1 and winners of eight in a row, the volleyball team has won eight straight since a 3-4 start. The football team has won two in a row after losing the first two games of the season.
It is amazing what tradition and pride in the program can do for our student-athletes. They feel like they have to uphold the strong traditions of the past. It is a big motivator.
All four teams have legitimate ASC MVP contenders on their teams and they are all underclassmen. It looks like the teams have not only figured it out, but they have restocked their rosters with good young players. It is a testament to the great coaches we have on staff and the pride they take in keeping their programs at the top of the conference.
Several players did well at the ITA tennis tournament over the weekend. Freshman Lisa Mertz advanced to the semifinals of singles as did Ryan Waters in the men. Waters and Wade Morgan lost 9-8 in the doubles finals.
The golf season is under way and freshman (there is that word again) Ashley Luecke is off to a sizzling start. She won the first tournament of the year by 11 strokes.
This week there are some big games for the soccer teams this week. Both teams play at UT-Dallas on Thursday night. The Comets have been the Cowgirls’ toughest competitor over the last several years in ASC play and nothing less than a physical close match is expected. The Cowboys have a talented UTD on Thursday and play at Ozarks on Saturday. A couple of wins could put the Cowboys in a good spot to host the ASC Tournament.
The Cowgirl volleyball team plays at Sul Ross State on Wednesday, then returns home for games against Concordia on Friday and Howard Payne on Saturday. The HPU game was listed as noon on most early schedules. It was changed last week to a 11 a.m. game.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be hosting its annual tailgate on Saturday. All students are encouraged to come by and have a burger or dog before the game.
Saturday is the big game for the Cowboy football team as the winner of the HSU-UMHB regular season game has won or shared the ASC title every year since 1998. It will be no different this season. Those who think the Cowboys are down this year need to come out and watch, because when these two teams play the records don’t matter. They are going to have a hard-hitting intense affair. Mary Hardin-Baylor is a talented team that is loaded with juniors and seniors. The Cowboys are a talented team that is loaded with freshmen and sophomores. Let’s see if the young guys can step it up another notch this weekend.
I have to admit there are certain games that get me fired up more than most. Most anything with McMurry brings out the intensity and you can feel it when you walk into the site of competition. The UMHB football game has become the same way. You know it is not just another game on the schedule, no matter coaches would like for you to believe. It is a big game and it is what makes college athletics great.
Can I remember plays from every game I have seen at HSU? No way. I have seen a lot of games, but I can almost instantly recall plays from the top of my head from every UMHB football game. Whether it was Josh McCasland sparking an offense, with a 50-something yard run on a muddy day in Belton in 2000. Or Jared Sanderson’s 14-tackle game in 2001 to preserve the Cowboys fourth straight conference title. In 2002, when the Cowboys had the ball inside the Crusaders 10 twice in the first quarter and having to settle for field goal attempts. The Cowboys were driving for the tying score when Matt Moskosky “fumbled” right in front of the Crusaders bench. P.J. Williams sticks in my head from that game as well. Man did he have some big games in his career against the Cowboys.
In 2004 the first game was filled with big plays on all sides, but Will Galusha’s interception return and long kickoff return turned the game into a blowout. In the return game in the NCAA playoffs it was Josh Kubiak’s coming out party when he picked off a pair of Jordan Neal passes and ran one back for a TD and the other deep into Cowboy territory.
UMHB did whatever they wanted that day in 2005 and recorded eight sacks.
In 2006 the first game a tipped punt and run back by Kubiak UMHB gave the Crusaders the momentum and a third quarter drive that seemed to take up the whole quarter took the Cowboys wind out of its sail.
The playoff game seemed to be going all the way of the Cowboys, until the bogus illegal substitution penalty gave the Crusaders a first down and they were able to take advantage and get the momentum back with a touchdown.
Who will be the Bryson, Rollins, Starnes, Williams, Fredenburg, Welch, Kubiak, Meyer for the Crusaders?
Who will be the Sanderson, McCasland, Rogers, Proctor, Gailey, Neal, Galusha or Moore for the Cowboys?
What will be the defining play of 2007? Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday.
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