It was a day we have all prepared ourselves for mentally several times over the last several years, but we lost a great friend this morning.
Glen Casselberry not only worked in maintenance for the school, but for many years served as the video coordinator for the football team. He was at ever game and took every win with pride and hurt with every loss.
He loved the Cowboys and he loved the university, but the thing he loved more than anything he loved his son and wife Brenda. Hunter has been the ball boy for the Cowboys since he could walk. I can't believe he is already playing high school ball for the Jim Ned Indians. Their interaction showed love. They both loved the road trips, even in the early days of the cancer.
There is little doubt in my mind that Glen fought the painful disease so long for Hunter. There were things he wanted to see him do and he fought hard to the end to see those things.
Hunter had to grow up all too soon with this, but he is a great kid. Brenda is a loving mom and was a trooper through the whole process. They both need our prayers and our support.
Heaven found another Cowboy today. Glen is in a better place, he fought the fight and should be admired for his strength, toughness, spirit and the love of his family.
I am sure Glen will be up there with a view of the whole field, not just that two inch viewfinder.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
An Interesting First Week
Well it has been an interesting first week – in more ways than one.
Football reported last Thursday for its first day of practice. We also took their publicity pictures that day and I was able to finish up the media guide and send it to the printer. Feeling, I was really actually ahead of where I needed to be in preparation for the season. I was pretty far ahead in the soccer and volleyball media guides so I decided to get out of Abilene for the weekend.
The family and I went for a great relaxing weekend on the river and at the Zetsch Ranch in Mason (thanks Jimmie and Susan). Apparently the rain moved in early Saturday and has played havoc ever since with practice schedules and the like.
I was all refreshed and ready for the onslaught of Monday. Then in the middle of the night my wife and I got what we thought was some sort of bug. I missed out on work on Monday and went in on Tuesday but still did not feel great. My wife had kicked her virus and was back to work.
I got the new rosters on the web for soccer and volleyball and was catching up some other items and decided I was going to stop by the clinic for a shot just to get to feeling better. When I went in he sent me straight to the emergency room with a dangerously low oxygen saturation level. He suspected pneumonia, but wanted me to go to the ER.
The ER tested me for several things and they admitted me at about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. They did more tests on Wednesday and finally ruled out anything cardiac. Finally, on Wednesday afternoon they diagnosed me with bilateral pneumonia.
I am on the mend, but they will probably keep me around through the weekend (much to my shagrin). I actually feel great now, and am tired of sitting around in the hospital, but they want to make sure my oxygen levels get back to normal and the IV antibiotics work faster than the oral ones.
I guess the fall sport teams are still progressing in their process toward the seasons. The volleyball team is on the new Mabee Gym floor and the soccer teams are finally getting some nicer weather. The cross country teams are running in the mornings. Here are some photo galleries from soccer, volleyball and football. Look for more galleries coming up. They are located on the front page of the new web site under the Multimedia tab.
Hopefully I am back to work next week. I really do miss not being around for this time of the year.
I would be remiss if I didn’t think a few people. My new graduate R.C. Waters has done a great job this week, running the office with little direct training. Those of you that know R.C., know that he is going to do his best to get the job done and with his addition to the office this year we are going to be able to kick out even more content than ever before.
I have mentioned this several times before on this blog, but I work with the best coaches and staff in America. Almost all of them have called, e-mailed or been by the hospital. I thank everyone for all of their gifts, prayers and communication.
Good friends John Neese and Jeff Smith have been by a couple of times and I appreciate that. Not everyone can work under parameters that their boss is also a good friend, but as much time as John and I spend together we better like each other. I really do have one of most unique situations in all of college sports, because not only is he my boss, but he has also been an SID and knows the time commitment and knows what is important for the department (i.e. the commitment to a new web site, a new digital camera, a graduate assistant for the first time, etc.).
Oh well, I guess if this had to happen it is better this week than next, or the week after that, because we are going to have a great fall and I am looking forward to it.
Football reported last Thursday for its first day of practice. We also took their publicity pictures that day and I was able to finish up the media guide and send it to the printer. Feeling, I was really actually ahead of where I needed to be in preparation for the season. I was pretty far ahead in the soccer and volleyball media guides so I decided to get out of Abilene for the weekend.
The family and I went for a great relaxing weekend on the river and at the Zetsch Ranch in Mason (thanks Jimmie and Susan). Apparently the rain moved in early Saturday and has played havoc ever since with practice schedules and the like.
I was all refreshed and ready for the onslaught of Monday. Then in the middle of the night my wife and I got what we thought was some sort of bug. I missed out on work on Monday and went in on Tuesday but still did not feel great. My wife had kicked her virus and was back to work.
I got the new rosters on the web for soccer and volleyball and was catching up some other items and decided I was going to stop by the clinic for a shot just to get to feeling better. When I went in he sent me straight to the emergency room with a dangerously low oxygen saturation level. He suspected pneumonia, but wanted me to go to the ER.
The ER tested me for several things and they admitted me at about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. They did more tests on Wednesday and finally ruled out anything cardiac. Finally, on Wednesday afternoon they diagnosed me with bilateral pneumonia.
I am on the mend, but they will probably keep me around through the weekend (much to my shagrin). I actually feel great now, and am tired of sitting around in the hospital, but they want to make sure my oxygen levels get back to normal and the IV antibiotics work faster than the oral ones.
I guess the fall sport teams are still progressing in their process toward the seasons. The volleyball team is on the new Mabee Gym floor and the soccer teams are finally getting some nicer weather. The cross country teams are running in the mornings. Here are some photo galleries from soccer, volleyball and football. Look for more galleries coming up. They are located on the front page of the new web site under the Multimedia tab.
Hopefully I am back to work next week. I really do miss not being around for this time of the year.
I would be remiss if I didn’t think a few people. My new graduate R.C. Waters has done a great job this week, running the office with little direct training. Those of you that know R.C., know that he is going to do his best to get the job done and with his addition to the office this year we are going to be able to kick out even more content than ever before.
I have mentioned this several times before on this blog, but I work with the best coaches and staff in America. Almost all of them have called, e-mailed or been by the hospital. I thank everyone for all of their gifts, prayers and communication.
Good friends John Neese and Jeff Smith have been by a couple of times and I appreciate that. Not everyone can work under parameters that their boss is also a good friend, but as much time as John and I spend together we better like each other. I really do have one of most unique situations in all of college sports, because not only is he my boss, but he has also been an SID and knows the time commitment and knows what is important for the department (i.e. the commitment to a new web site, a new digital camera, a graduate assistant for the first time, etc.).
Oh well, I guess if this had to happen it is better this week than next, or the week after that, because we are going to have a great fall and I am looking forward to it.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Summer Is Over
There are signs marking the different times of the year. There is Christmas lights telling you it is almost Christmas, there are fireworks for the Fourth of July and the crispness of the morning telling us that the summer heat is a thing of the past.
For me there is no better indicator that the summer is over and it is time for another year like this week. On Monday, we had the conference Sports Information Directors meetings. On Tuesday, we took pictures of the football coaching staff, which is in the middle of what I call their bunker down week before the players arrive. On Thursday, we have our annual beginning of the year staff meeting.
It just means is the anticipation of a new year is finally here. It is my favorite time of the year, even though it is the busiest. To actually see teams back on the field or court practicing and getting ready it gets you fired up for what is in store.
There have been some changes in the offseason – we have a new men’s basketball coach in Craig Carse. I think our fans are going to enjoy his style of play and Chuck Hudson better be practicing punching those scoreboard buttons, especially for when other up-tempo teams like Concordia come into the building.
Speaking of basketball, the Mabee Complex floor is currently in the process of being painted. It was totally stripped down and new markings are being painted for the new 3-point line and permanent volleyball lines.
The track is coming along as well and should be ready sometime in the fall. The soccer and track coaches have moved out to their new home in the Fieldhouse at Grape Street.
We also have the new web site for this year and I am anxious to see some of the new features in place.
I expect that this is going to be another exciting year. Several of our teams are the on-paper teams to beat going into the year. Some of them won’t be. That is why we don’t play the games on paper.
Just seven more days until football practice starts up and about 10 before the rest of the sports get ready to go.
One More Thing
Is the Brett Favre finally over?
For me there is no better indicator that the summer is over and it is time for another year like this week. On Monday, we had the conference Sports Information Directors meetings. On Tuesday, we took pictures of the football coaching staff, which is in the middle of what I call their bunker down week before the players arrive. On Thursday, we have our annual beginning of the year staff meeting.
It just means is the anticipation of a new year is finally here. It is my favorite time of the year, even though it is the busiest. To actually see teams back on the field or court practicing and getting ready it gets you fired up for what is in store.
There have been some changes in the offseason – we have a new men’s basketball coach in Craig Carse. I think our fans are going to enjoy his style of play and Chuck Hudson better be practicing punching those scoreboard buttons, especially for when other up-tempo teams like Concordia come into the building.
Speaking of basketball, the Mabee Complex floor is currently in the process of being painted. It was totally stripped down and new markings are being painted for the new 3-point line and permanent volleyball lines.
The track is coming along as well and should be ready sometime in the fall. The soccer and track coaches have moved out to their new home in the Fieldhouse at Grape Street.
We also have the new web site for this year and I am anxious to see some of the new features in place.
I expect that this is going to be another exciting year. Several of our teams are the on-paper teams to beat going into the year. Some of them won’t be. That is why we don’t play the games on paper.
Just seven more days until football practice starts up and about 10 before the rest of the sports get ready to go.
One More Thing
Is the Brett Favre finally over?
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